Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • Tears As 3 Die In BRT, Okada Crash In Lagos

    Tears As 3 Die In BRT, Okada Crash In Lagos

    Three lives were lost in an auto crash in the Alakija area of Lagos on Thursday.

    The victims, riding on two commercial motorcycles, were involved in a head-on collision with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle en route to Okomaiko from Mile 2 in the Ojo area of the state.

    Reports say that the victims were returning home after a football match at Navy Town in Ojo when their motorcycles collided with the Lagos State government-owned commercial bus.

    The situation grew tense, with irate youths considering setting the bus ablaze, but the timely intervention of the police from FESTAC Police Station, led by Divisional Police Officer Balogun Gboyega, prevented a potential catastrophe.

    The body of one of the motorcyclists was taken away by their family, while the remaining three were taken to FESTAC Police Station.

    The BRT driver, who narrowly escaped a lynching by the angry mob, was also rescued by the police.

    The police revealed that many motorcycle riders were unaware that riding on the BRT lane from Okomaiko to Mile 2 had been prohibited since the commencement of BRT bus operations on the route.

    A police source emphasized, “The state government had outlawed the use of the BRT lane by okada riders or commercial buses. Some are aware but still choose to violate the rules, leading to incidents like this.”

    Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that it occurred around 5:40 pm on Wednesday.

    “The crash involved a BRT Mercedes bus with registration number BRI 043, driven by Olubor Oluwasegun.

    The driver was on the Mile 2 BRT lane heading towards Iyana Iba when the accident happened.

    Tragically, three of the victims lost their lives at the scene, while one, Divine Omosowo, was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. 

    Two of the deceased were taken to the Mainland General Hospital mortuary in Yaba”.

  • Terrorism Charges: Nnamdi Kanu Knows Fate Dec 15

    Terrorism Charges: Nnamdi Kanu Knows Fate Dec 15

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria has officially set December 15, 2023, as the date for delivering its judgment in the highly anticipated case involving the federal government of Nigeria and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    This announcement was made by the apex court on Thursday, following the completion of final submissions by the legal teams representing both the federal government and Nnamdi Kanu. 

    Recall that the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on October 13, 2022, ordered the release of Kanu from detention, while also dismissing a 15-count terrorism charge brought against him by the FG.

    The three-member panel unanimously reached this decision, stating that the Nigerian government had violated established laws by forcibly bringing Kanu from Kenya for trial, thus stripping the trial court of jurisdiction. 

    Following this verdict, the FG, dissatisfied with the ruling, appealed to the Supreme Court and obtained a suspension of the judgement’s execution pending the appeal’s determination.

  • Don’t Expect Stable Power After Vandalizing Electricity Grid, TCN Tells Nigerians

    Don’t Expect Stable Power After Vandalizing Electricity Grid, TCN Tells Nigerians

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians, stating that the persistent vandalism of its installations has put the stability of the national electricity grid in jeopardy.

    In a statement posted on its official social media account, the TCN expressed deep concern over the alarming rate at which its facilities are being vandalized across the country.

     The company firmly stated that Nigerians should brace themselves for an unstable electricity grid if this destructive trend continues.

    The TCN did not mince words when it criticized the general public for allowing vandals to run rampant, emphasizing that the consequences of this negligence would directly impact grid stability and expansion.

    TCN said: “The rate of vandalism of TCN’s installations nationwide is becoming alarming. We cannot eat our cake and still have it. We cannot continue to vandalize power infrastructure or look the other way when such activities are ongoing and expect grid stability and expansion.”

    This warning comes in the wake of concerning reports revealing the extent of the damage caused by vandals.

    Between January 2022 and September 2023, a total of 108 power transmission towers were destroyed.

    Additionally, in May, nine TCN transmission towers were vandalized in Ogun State. These incidents have occurred in various regions, including Benin, Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, and Kano.

    Notably, some of these attacks have been attributed to the Boko Haram terrorist group, further highlighting that the issue extends beyond mere theft and accidents, constituting a deliberate act of sabotage against the nation’s power infrastructure.

  • MohBad’s Childhood Friend, Primeboy Turns Self In To Police

    MohBad’s Childhood Friend, Primeboy Turns Self In To Police

    The Lagos State Police has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the untimely death of afrobeat sensation, MohBad, as they have confirmed the arrest of Ibrahim Oluwatosin, popularly known as Primeboy.

    SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the official spokesperson for the Lagos State Police, took to Twitter to make the announcement earlier on Thursday.

    According to Hundeyin, Primeboy voluntarily surrendered himself to the authorities, leading to his immediate arrest for questioning and further legal proceedings.

    Recall that Primeboy was declared wanted with a reward of N1 million given to anyone who had any information about him.

    “Following his being declared wanted, Owodunni Ibrahim Oluwatosin, aka Primeboy, has turned himself in. He has immediately been taken into custody for interrogation and other necessary actions,” Hundeyin stated.

    In the wake of this arrest, the Lagos State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a thorough and diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding MohBad’s tragic demise, which occurred on September 12, 2023.

    “The Lagos State Police Command once again assures family, friends, fans of MohBad, and the general public that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring a most diligent investigation.

    The Command equally assures that all persons found culpable in the death of Mr. Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka MohBad, will definitely be brought to justice,” Hundeyin emphasized.

  • Akpabio Discloses Health Status Of Ministerial Nominee Who Collapsed

    Akpabio Discloses Health Status Of Ministerial Nominee Who Collapsed

    *As Senate Confirms Nominees

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has provided an update on the condition of Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the ministerial nominee who fainted during Wednesday’s screening session.

    Abass had slumped while answering questions after presenting his profile to the lawmakers. 

    This sudden incident prompted the Senate to go into a closed session as medical personnel rushed to the chamber to assist the nominee.

    After a few minutes of tense moments, Abbas was successfully revived and taken out of the Senate Chamber via an ambulance.

    Akpabio explained that Balarabe Abbas Lawal attributed his collapse to exhaustion, as he had been working tirelessly for several days leading up to the screening. 

    Despite his condition, the nominee was determined to proceed with the screening, insisting that he was fit to do so.

    In related news, the Nigerian Senate has confirmed three more ministerial nominees nominated by President Bola Tinubu. 

    The newly confirmed nominees include Balarabe Abbas Lawal from Kaduna State, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State, and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.

    These confirmations followed their successful screening, which was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    President Tinubu had submitted their names to the Senate for approval, and their confirmation comes just a day after his request was received by the National Assembly.

  • Court Remands Naira Marley In Prison As Police Declare Mohbad’s Ally Wanted

    Court Remands Naira Marley In Prison As Police Declare Mohbad’s Ally Wanted

    A Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos State, has remanded Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, and Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, into police custody. 

    This decision comes at the request of the Lagos State Police Command, which sought a 30-day remand for the individuals while they investigate further.

    However, Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun ruled for a 21-day remand instead. 

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has declared Owodunni Ibrahim, also known as Primeboy, wanted due to his failure to respond to police invitations during the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.

    Lagos police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, described Ibrahim as approximately 1.64 meters tall, male, dark-complexioned, with tribal marks, and of Yoruba descent.

    His last known address is 3rd Power, Oke Eletu, Ikorodu.

    Hundeyin urged anyone who may have information on Ibrahim’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or call 0803 688 5727.

    Additionally, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, has offered a reward of N1 million to anyone providing useful information leading to Ibrahim’s arrest.

    This development follows the tragic death of Mohbad, a former signee of Naira Marley’s record label, at the age of 27 in Lagos.

  • Naira Marley Lands In Police Custody Over MohBad’s Death

    Naira Marley Lands In Police Custody Over MohBad’s Death

    The Lagos State Police Command has officially confirmed the arrest and detention of Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, the CEO of Marlian Records. 

    This arrest is in connection with the tragic demise of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

    The Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, took to Twitter late Tuesday night to announce Naira Marley’s detention, stating, “Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, has been taken into custody for interrogation and other investigation activities.”

    This news came shortly after Naira Marley himself tweeted that he had returned to Lagos, Nigeria, with the intention of assisting the police in their ongoing investigations into Mohbad’s untimely death.

     He expressed his commitment to playing his part in seeking justice for Imole.

    In his tweet, Naira Marley said, “I’d like to share that I’ve just arrived back in Lagos, Nigeria to assist the authorities with the ongoing investigation. It’s important I do my part for Imole. I’ll be meeting with the police with hopes for the truth to be uncovered and for justice to prevail.”

    This move follows Naira Marley’s previous promise to return to the country to clear his name, as he had raised concerns about his safety and claimed that someone was attempting to falsely implicate him in Mohbad’s death.

    In related developments, the police had previously arrested Balogun Olamilekan Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, in connection with Mohbad’s tragic passing. 

      
  • WhatsApp Will No Longer Support Old Model Phones From October 24

    WhatsApp Will No Longer Support Old Model Phones From October 24

    WhatsApp, the world’s leading messaging app, has announced that it will discontinue its support for certain older devices starting Tuesday, October 24, 2023. 

    In a statement posted on its FAQ page, the app’s parent company, Meta, revealed that it will no longer function on smartphones running Android 4.1 or earlier versions.

    Likewise, iPhones still operating on iOS 11 or lower will also be impacted by this change.

    WhatsApp will limit its support to phones running Android 5.1 and higher, beginning on the specified date.

    However, the messaging platform will continue to provide services for iPhones using iOS 12 and newer, as well as KaiOS 2.5.0 and above.

     A message from WhatsApp stated, “Starting October 24, 2023, only Android OS version 5.0 and newer will be supported. Your phone must be capable of receiving SMS or calls during the verification process. We do not support setting up new accounts on WiFi-only devices. 

    “Prior to discontinuing support for your operating system, WhatsApp will provide direct notifications within the app well in advance, along with reminders to upgrade.”

    While WhatsApp did not release a list of specific affected phone models, it is expected that Android users with devices from manufacturers such as Sony, HTC, LG, Motorola, and others may be impacted. 

    Additionally, iPhone users still on iOS 11 are encouraged to update to iOS 12 to continue using the messaging app. 

    WhatsApp has pledged to keep its users informed by regularly updating its support page with the latest information on compatible operating systems.

  • I’ll Appeal Tribunal Judgement Sacking Me, Says Gov Sule

    I’ll Appeal Tribunal Judgement Sacking Me, Says Gov Sule

    Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state says he will appeal the judgement of the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal that invalidated his victory in the March 18 election on Monday.

    He acknowledged the tribunal’s decision as a temporary setback and expressed a commitment to learn from it and come back stronger.

    Governor Sule maintained that he remains in office until the Supreme Court decides otherwise, citing his legal right to appeal.

    He urged his supporters to remain calm and discouraged them from engaging in street protests or responding to opposition, especially on social media.

    The tribunal’s split judgment annulled Governor Sule’s election as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner.

    Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, the tribunal’s chairman, read the majority judgment in favor of David Ombugadu.

    Justice Chiemelie Onaga, another panel member, supported the lead judgment.

    Justice Ibrahim Mashi delivered the dissenting judgment, dismissing the petition filed by the PDP candidate and upholding Governor Sule’s declaration by the INEC.

  • NLC, TUC Suspend Industrial Action For One Month

    NLC, TUC Suspend Industrial Action For One Month

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress have suspended the indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3.

    The organized labour had planned to embark on the nationwide industrial action to protest the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

    However, on Monday night, NLC president, Joe Ajaero in a communique, announced that the strike has been halted for thirty days.

     The strike was called after the government refused to meet the seven-point demands of the organized labour to improve workers’ conditions.

    The Federal Government had invited Labour for a meeting to prevent the strike.

    The meeting involved Governors, Ministers, and officials and was chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila.

    The Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong addressed withheld salaries of university staff, while the new wage of N35,000 for Federal Government workers was granted from September.

    Outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in Federal-owned institutions were referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.