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Category: News

  • Blackout Hits Parts Of Nigeria As Power Stations Collapse

    Blackout Hits Parts Of Nigeria As Power Stations Collapse

    Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kogi State, are currently experiencing power outages due to the collapse of a power station.

    The two areas earlier mentioned are under the coverage of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

    On Tuesday, the AEDC informed its customers in Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli and other parts of Abuja that a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station was responsible for the power outage.

    “The management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc wishes to notify its esteemed customers that there is currently a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station, managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

    “The areas affected in Abuja are: Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli, Old Karu Road, Glory Estate, and environs,” the Disco said in a statement.

    The AEDC disclosed that the TCN maintenance crew was working to ensure the supply of electricity to these areas was restored soon, regretting any inconvenience caused.

    Earlier, the TCN had announced its maintenance crew would carry out planned maintenance on its TR3 45MVA and TR2 60MVA power transformers in its 132/33kV Okene Transmission Substation.

    The maintenance was scheduled to run from Tuesday to Wednesday, from 10 am to 03pm on each day.

  • Court Refuses to stop impeachment move against Edo Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu

    Court Refuses to stop impeachment move against Edo Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, again, refused to stop the alleged impeachment move against the incumbent Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr Phillip Shaibu by the State House of Assembly.

    Specifically, Shaibu prays the court to grant an order of status quo to be maintained by the House of Assembly and others involved in the impeachment move.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Olawoyin Awoyale, (SAN) had orally requested for an order of status quo to be maintained by parties pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice.

    In his ruling, Justice Omotoso held that the cited authority was not applicable in the Shaibu’s case because the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly who are the principal actors in the impeachment bid have not been served with the originating summons of the suit as required by law.

    However, the Judge granted the request that the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly be served with the originating summons by substituted means.

    Specifically, Justice Omotoso ordered that the court process be pasted at the entrance gate of the Edo State Government House and the gate of the State House of Assembly Complex both in Benin.

    Besides, the Judge also directed that all court papers be served on parties in the matter with the use of a registered Courier Company.

    Justice Omotoso subsequently fixed April 15 for hearing of the case.

    The Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu who was in the room throughout the Wednesday’s proceedings declined to speak with newsmen.

    In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the Edo State Government, Edo State Governor, Edo State House of Assembly, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Inspector General of Police IGP and Director General of the Department of State Services DSS were listed as the first to eighth defendants.

    Shaibu, in the suit, sought an order of the court restricting the third to fifth defendants from commencing any process by issuing a notice of allegation, holding proceedings, or setting up any panel of investigation for his removal pending the hearing of a motion on notice.

    He also sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves or their agents, from interfering with the subject matter of the originating summons filed in the suit either by way of taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as the deputy governor of Edo State pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

    Other reliefs sought are: “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st to 8th defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives, and or any other person or authority acting through them, from preventing the plaintiff either by threat of removal from office or adverse actions capable of hindering the plaintiff from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings, functions and other duties.

    “An order of interim injunction directing the defendants herein jointly, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives, or any other person or authority acting through them, to maintain status quo ante bellum prevailing before the issuance of the purported notice or petition to commence removal of the Plaintiff from office pending the hearing and the final determination of the motion on notice. ”

  • FG Releases List Of Those Responsible For Terrorism Financing In Nigeria

    FG Releases List Of Those Responsible For Terrorism Financing In Nigeria

    The Federal Government has released a list of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, involved in terrorism financing.

    The details of the development were revealed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and made available on Tuesday night.

    The document, entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024,” disclosed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee met on March 18, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for sanction following their involvement in terrorism financing.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List,” the document read in part.

    Among the individuals named on the document is a Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu, who is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

    According to the document, Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransome payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.”

    The document also said one of the individuals is “the suspected attacker of the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022 and the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja on July 5, 2022.”

    Another was described as “a member of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, the group is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

    “The subject was trained and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, aka One Eyed Out, led Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.”

    The NFIU said the individual “specialises in designing terrorist clandestine communication code and he is also Improvised Explosive Device expert.

    “The subject was also a gate keeper to ANSARU leader, Mohammed Usman aka Khalid Al-Bamawi. Equally, he was a courier and travel guide to AQIM Katibat in the desert of Algeria and Mali. He is into carpentry. Subject fled Kuje correctional centre on July 5, 2022. He is currently at large.”

    Another was identified as “a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Okene.”

    The agency said the individual “came into limelight in 2012 as North Central wing of Boko Haram.

    “The group is suspected of the attacks carried out around Federal Capital Territory and the South West Geographical Zone, including the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.”

    Another was described as “a financial courier to ISWAP Okene. She is responsible for the disbursement of funds to the widows/wives of the terrorist fighters of the group.”

    According to the document, another of the individuals “in 2015, transferred N60m to terrorism convicts.”

    He was also said to have “received a sum of N189m between 2016 and 2018.”

    The same person is said to “own entities and business reported in the UAE court judgment as facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai to Nigeria.”

    Another individual was said to have “received a total of N57m from between 2014 and 2017.”

    Another was said to have “had a total inflow of N61.4 bn and a total outflow of N51.7bn from his accounts.”

  • Japa: Nurses drag health minister, others to court over implementation of new policy

    Japa: Nurses drag health minister, others to court over implementation of new policy

    Some nurses in the country have dragged the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the Minister of Health, and six others before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria over the new certificate verification guidelines.

    The NMCN had, on February 7, 2024, issued a circular revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.

    The council stated that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license.

    The new guidelines came into force on March 1, 2024.

    There have been series of protests by nurses in Abuja and Lagos to demand the reversal of the new guidelines.

    Some aggrieved nurse dragged the Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council Nigeria; Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Federal Ministry of Health and Attorney General of the Federation before the court demanding a suspension of the policy.

    The complaints in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024,
    are Desmond Aigbe; Kelvin Ossai; Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro; Tamunoibi Berry; Osemwengie Osagie; Abiola Olaniyan, Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse.

    They are urging the court to restrain the defendants or their agents from implementing the NMCN circular pending the determination of the suit.

    The nurses also urged the court to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.

    The reliefs sought partly read, “An interlocutory order restraining
    suspending the commencement of the 2nd Defendant” “REVISED GUIDELINES FOR VERIFICATION OF CERTIFICATE(S) WITH THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA” earlier proposed to take effect from the 7th of March, 2024 as indicated on the 2nd Defendant’s circular dated 7th February, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants/Applicants Originating Summons in this suit.

    “An interlocutory order restraining the Defendants, their Partners, parastatals, subjects, counterparts. agents, servants, privies, assigns, or whoever, acting for. with or on behalf of the Defendants from taking any further step that may hinder, restrict, or infringe on the constitutional rights and freedom of nurses and midwives in Nigeria from emigrating to the country to seek better career opportunities and training abroad.

    “An interlocutory order of the court mandating the 1st & 2nd Defendants to continue to carry out verification of certificates or any documents requested by applicants, their other intending colleagues, and other members of the Nursing and Midwifery profession within 7 days from the date of such application pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants/Applicants Originating Summons.”

    At the proceedings on Wednesday, counsel for the complaints, Ode Evans told the court that he had just received the preliminary objection filled by the first and second defendants some moments ago.

    He pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to reply to their applications.

    Evans said,” I confirmed the receipt of the application from the first and second defendants this morning. We shall be asking for a date to enable us to file our responses. ”

    The judge, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, however, adjourned the matter till May 20 for hearing.

    She ordered that the hearing notice be served on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation who had no legal representation in court.

  • Zenith Bank Appoints First Female GMD/CEO

    Zenith Bank Appoints First Female GMD/CEO

    Zenith Bank has named Adaora Umeoji as its first female Group Managing Director/Chief Executive. 

    Her appointment, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, takes effect from June 1, 2024, according to the bank.

    “She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after a very successful tenure. Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of the bank, and her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within,” Zenith Bank said in a Tuesday statement.

    Before her latest appointment, Umeoji had been serving as the bank’s Deputy Managing Director since October 28, 2016. She has about 30 years of cognate banking experience with 26 of them spent working with Zenith Bank.

    “She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and an alumnus of Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Program,” the bank statement further read.

    “She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class Honours in Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.”

  • Popular Nollywood producer, Andy Best is dead

    Popular Nollywood producer, Andy Best is dead

    Nollywood producer, Ikechukwu Nnadi, popularly known as Andy Best, is reportedly dead.

    Nnadi, who was said to be battling with a prolonged ailment, was confirmed dead at a private clinic in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday.

    Confirming the death of the movie producer, the convener of the Best of Nollywood awards, Mr Seun Oloketuyi, wrote in an Instagram post that Nnadi is late.

    “Andy Best, a top Nollywood producer and marketer, is dead.

    “He died in an Owerri hospital today,” he wrote.

    Until his death, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Andy Best Production and was behind the production of famous movies, including Lion of Africa, White Poison, My Father’s Cup, and many more.

    He hailed from Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

    Meanwhile, his remains have been deposited at the Aladinma Mortuary in Owerri.

  • I’m not in support of violence in South East -Kanu

    I’m not in support of violence in South East -Kanu

    The embattled Nnamdi Kanu has distanced himself from the violence in the South Eastern part of the country by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members.

    Speaking after the court refused to grant his bail application, Kanu vowed that those behind the violence in the name of being an IPOB member would not be spared.

    He noted that the violence persisted because he was being held in the custody of DSS, adding that if released, there would be peace in the entire South- East.

    He said, “Anybody committing crime cannot go free. I swear it. Anybody committing crime in the east cannot go free. They are doing it because I am in the DSS(custody). If I were to be outside, nobody can try this. I suspect that some people in government are complicit. They are making money with the insecurity.

    “They know if Nnamdi Kanu is outside, in two minutes this nonsense will stop. Who is the bagger or idiot that will speak when I am talking. That I will give an order in the East who is the idiot that I will an order that will counter it ? Nobody can. I am Nnmadi Kanu. Rubbish!.

    “Anybody involved in any form of violence in the East in the name of IPOB is a goner and they know it. Let me come out of this mess, only two minutes there will be peace in the East. “

  • Sowore Apologizes To Nigerian Army, Gives Reason 

    Sowore Apologizes To Nigerian Army, Gives Reason 

    Activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has apologised to the Nigerian Army (NA) for posting a video purportedly showing Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State under military attack following the killing of 16 Army personnel of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in the State last Thursday.

    The viral videos show some houses on fire and was allegedly blamed on the Army as a reprisal attack on the community where the Commanding Officer of the Army Battalion, three other senior officers and 12 soldiers were ambushed and killed by suspected youths of the community.

    But, Sowore, who just returned to his family in the United States of America last week after about five years of being on trial in Nigeria for alleged terrorism, said he had discovered that the video was false as it depicts a different event that happened in the neighbouring Bayelsa State and not Delta State.

    Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, Sowore, who said he had since deleted the misleading videos, however, insisted that the Nigerian Army desist from further reprisal attacks against innocent civilians in Okuama and any other settlement in the Niger Delta region even as he called for impartial investigation into the killing of the Army personnel said to be on a mediatory and peace mission in the Okuama community.

    Sowore wrote: “I deleted my earlier videos that showed a burning village in the Niger Delta region that was purportedly from reprisal attacks against Okuama community by the Nigerian Army @HQNigeriaArmy upon new evidence that this was from an old different incident in Nembe, Bayelsa state.

    “I apologise for the wrong video. However, I insist that the Nigerian Army @HQNigeriaArmy desist from further reprisal attacks against innocent civilians in Okuama and any other settlement in the Niger Delta region, I call for an impartial investigation to unravel the real culprits involved in killing of Nigerian soldiers in Okuama. The Nigerian Armed forces must refrain from further reprisal attacks againt villages in the area. #RevolutionNow.”

  • Students Loan Repayment: NANS Proposes Five Years plan

    Students Loan Repayment: NANS Proposes Five Years plan

    Nigeria student’s body, the National Association of Nigerian Students, has urged the federal government to extend the repayment plan for the proposed students loan to five years after post-NYSC instead of the initial two years post-NYSC plan.

    The body maintained that less than 10 per cent of graduates get absorbed into the labour market within two years post-NYSC, adding that it becomes unrealistic to expect beneficiaries of the loan scheme to begin repayment two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps.

    NANS President Lucky Emonele, made the proposal on Monday at a public hearing on the repeal and re-enactment of 2024 Students Loans Access to Higher Education Bill 2024 in Abuja. 

    Whioe commending President Bola Tinubu for responding to the request of NANS, by including its leadership as representatives of the students on the loan board, Emonele also commended the decision to repeal the Act to address grey areas that could hinder the success of the student loan scheme.

    According to him, the proposed repayment period of two years post-NYSC for the loan was not realistic, saying that less than 10 per cent of Nigerian graduates get absorbed into the labour force upon completion of their NYSC.

    The NANS President, therefore, proposed a minimum of five years repayment duration, given the challenges of unemployment after graduation.

    While calling for the provision of study grants for Nigerian students in the Act seeking to establish the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Emonele also appealed that the provision of a loan scheme should not be a further reason for an arbitrary increment of school fees by the management of tertiary institutions.

    He, therefore, urged the National Assembly to pass a resolution that prohibits public tertiary institutions from increasing school fees in the next 10 years, saying it was the only way to sustain the act when enacted.

    According to him, there is also a need to make provision for grants for students to enable them to complete or further their studies.

    This, he said, would encourage more students to enroll in school and alleviate the burden that may be placed on the loans.

    “If the Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, could earmark N683bn for public tertiary institutions in 2024, without requesting for payback from beneficiary institutions, Nigerian students should not be treated any differently.”

    The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Education and TETFUND and the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loan, Scholarship, and Higher Education Financing.

    In his words, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, commended President Bola Tinubu for his passion and commitment to the education sector, stating that the President does not want any child of school age to be out of school, given his passion for education.

    The minister said the public hearing would provide an opportunity to make further input to improve the bill for the good of Nigerian students.

  • BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu Bail Appeal Denied

    BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu Bail Appeal Denied

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday rejected the bail application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, however, granted an accelerated hearing instead.

    Counsel for the IPOB leader, Alloy Ejimakor, had at the last adjourned date urged the court to admit Kanu to bail before the commencement of the trial.

    Ejimakor stated that Kanu’s health condition was deteriorating, adding that his continued detention by the DSS was a threat to his life.

    Ejimakor also argued that the continued incarceration of Kanu would not enable him to put up a good defence in the matter.

    But the counsel for the FG, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the bail application and instead grant an accelerated hearing.

    He noted that the DSS has a medical facility that could take care of him.

    Awomolo also accused Kanu of once jumping bail, adding that he failed to declare on oath in the affidavit filed by his lawyer that if granted bail, he wouldn’t jump bail.

    He was earlier granted bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017, after spending 18 months in detention but he fled the country after an invasion of his residence by the military in September 2017.