Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Category: News

Gov Alia Wasn’t Stoned By Youths, Benue Govt Debunks Reports

The Benue State government has denied allegations that youths threw objects at Governor Hyacinth Alia during his visit to Vaatia College in Makurdi.

Reports had emerged on Wednesday that youths stoned the governor while protesting over plans to bury their proprietor within the school premises in their community.

The proprietor, Engr Vaatia, who died two days ago, was buried today.

Sir Kula Tersoo, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, labeled the reports as untrue and aimed at tarnishing the governor’s image.

Tersoo clarified that the governor’s purpose at Vaatia College was to address incidents of vandalism and theft, directing authorities to apprehend those responsible.

He emphasized that Governor Alia’s visit was uninterrupted, highlighting the governor’s track record of moving around the state without harassment.

In urging media professionals to verify news sources before publication, Tersoo emphasized the need for accuracy and investigative reporting.

He condemned the “ill-intended” nature of the reports and stressed the importance of ensuring the truthfulness of news before dissemination.

11/16/2023
Defence Ministry To Deepen Collaboration With Bulgaria

The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni has said that the Ministry of Defence is willing and ready to deepen Defence cooperation with Bulgaria.

Badaru disclosed this when he received the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov in Ship House, Abuja.

He said that considering the level of Bulgarian Defence Industry, the Ministry of Defence will cooperate with Bulgaria in areas of information and intelligence sharing, equipment production as well as military training.

Speaking on Military equipment, the Minister stated that Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) of Nigeria will partner with Bulgaria for effective technology transfer that will enable the Industry meet with international standard.

Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Bulgaria will be signed to facilitate effective military cooperation between the two countries.

On the forth coming Military Exhibition slated for June 2024, the Minister promised to send a delegation from the Ministry to attend the exhibition. “Our attendance will provide us opportunity to learn how Bulgarian Government produce their Military hardware.

Yanko Yordanov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria said Bulgaria and Nigeria have shared experiences and existing mutual military relationship that exceeded decades.

In furtherance to strengthening the bilateral relations, the Ambassador said that the Military Exhibition would afford Nigeria the opportunity to gain more knowledge about Bulgarian Military equipment production.

11/16/2023
Sectorial Debate: Reps Reject Service Chiefs, IGP’s Representatives

*Insist On Personal Appearance

The House of Representatives has moved the Sectoral debate scheduled for Thursday (today) due to the absence of the Service Chiefs who were expected to attend in person.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, were invited to the session as part of the House’s Sectorial Debates, as per Order 17, Rules 1(3) of the Standing Orders.

However, the Service Chiefs and the IGP failed to attend and instead sent representatives, who were denied participation by the House, insisting on the Chiefs’ personal presence.

Despite the attempt by the representatives to introduce themselves, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu emphasized the importance of the Chiefs attending in person, stating, “Chief Executives, be it private sector or public sector, they must come in person. I want to pray that we don’t break this sacred tradition of our House lest we be taken for granted.”

Following this, a motion to suspend the sectoral engagement until the leaders’ direct appearance was proposed by the Deputy Speaker and seconded by another member, which was ultimately adopted by the House.

Speaker Abbas Tajuddeen conveyed the House’s stance, emphasizing the necessity for the Chiefs to be present, extending the engagement to the following Tuesday to accommodate their attendance.

The House expressed appreciation for the representatives’ presence but maintained the firm requirement for the Service Chiefs’ personal appearance in the forthcoming session.

11/16/2023
Peter Obi Slams Tinubu For Blaming Buhari For Nigeria’s Bankruptcy

*Charges APC On Transparency, Accountability To Nigerians

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized Nuhu Ribadu’s claims of inheriting a financially bankrupt nation from the past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

During an address on Monday, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu said the incumbent government, under President Bola Tinubu, inherited a “bankrupt country”.

He conveyed that they are encountering significant budgetary limitations, affirming that “I’m comfortable sharing this information with you. It’s important for you to understand. Our current situation is highly critical.

“We’ve taken on an immensely challenging nation, one in financial disarray to the extent that we’re repaying debts accumulated in the past. The severity of this matter cannot be overstated.

“Nevertheless, our administration is making every effort to fulfill our obligations, notably those concerning the armed forces, amid these challenging circumstances.”

However, in response to Ribadu’s statements, Peter Obi faulted the All Progressives Congress (APC) government for its lack of transparency regarding the extent of the financial deficit inherited.

Obi emphasized the need for clear disclosure to inform the public about the nation’s current standing and future trajectory.

Drawing parallels to the past, Obi recalled how the APC administration previously blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 for inheriting financial challenges and subsequently escalating the country’s debt profile.

Expressing concern over the escalating debt from N12.6 trillion in 2015 to N87 trillion in 2023 during the APC’s tenure, Obi highlighted the nation’s deteriorating state across various developmental indices, including education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and security.

Obi stressed the urgency of implementing measures to reduce the high cost of governance, redirecting resources towards critical sectors such as security, healthcare, education, and poverty eradication.

The statement by Peter Obi on X formerly Twitter further questioned the rationale behind certain expenditures in the recently approved supplementary budget, emphasizing the necessity of allocating resources prudently to address the nation’s pressing needs.

Obi called for concrete and measurable steps aimed at improving Nigeria’s current economic situation rather than allocating funds to non-essential areas.

11/16/2023
Motorcycle Riders Union Cautions Nigerians Against Activities Of Impostors

The motorcycle riders union has called on Nigerians to be mindful of the activities of some impostors in their midst, while warning the Federal Government and even the general public to desist from dealing with them in whatever capacity.

The National President of the union, Comrade Julius Ogenewevgba Bobi, FCPAN who stated this in a press statement made available to NIGERIAN ANCHOR, however stated that all those involved in trying to destabilize the union through their illegal action have all been suspended.

He therefore pleaded with the Nigerian Government and the general public to desist from dealing with them in whatever ways that relate to the motorcycle riders union. He declared that all those involved in the palace coup are considered as impersonators, and have all been notified of their suspension from the union.

He appealed to those concerned to desist from parading themselves as officials of the union, while threatening that failure to harcken to the appeal the union would be forced to take legal action against them.

Throwing more light on the issue, Comrade Bobi maintained that having previously given approval to the Special National Delegates Conference to be held, his attention was drawn to the fact that such was in clear violation of the constitution of their Union.

“In resorting to the constitution of the union to which I swore an oath of allegiance under penalty of perjury as was insisted by some members who wrote to draw my attention to it, I discovered that the supposedly fixed Special National Delegates Conference is in clear deviance to our constitution hence we do not have any provision for the appellation “Special Delegates Congress” as was tagged; in clear terms of which I wrote a letter suspending it until further notice pursuant to the power vested on me as the National President with reference to Rule 8 subsection 1 of our constitution which states that “a Special National Delegates Conference shall be held at such time and venue as the National Executive Council may decide on the receipt of a request from the National President or a resolution adopted by a two-third (2/3) majority of the State Councils calling for such a conference.

The resolution shall be forwarded to the General Secretary and National President of the Union”.

“To my greatest surprise, the “Special National Delegates Congress” still held with the firm support of the Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Denja Yaqub who, prior to the meeting and receipt of the notification for the cancellation of the meeting, staged an unwarranted argument with me, vehemently opposing its cancellation on grounds of late notification,”

MOUN national President explained the effort he made to manage the situation but maintained that from everything that happened it was obvious that the situation was premeditated.

“I must of necessity state very poignantly that I made all necessary efforts to settle the differences between us to no avail. Relentlessly too, I sent people who are aware of the feud to mediate between us, but they bluntly refused to grant them audience nor were available to meet with them; all because they have a clearly premeditated agenda of truncating the newly birthed union so they might be able to have their way as rebels,” he concluded.

11/16/2023
Tragedy As Building Collapse Kills One In Lagos

A tragic incident unfolded early on Thursday morning as a two-storey building situated at number 34 Oloto Street, Borno Way, off Freeman Street, Oyingbo, in Lagos collapsed, claiming the life of an elderly woman reported to be in her 80s.

The unidentified woman gave up the ghost immediately the structure collapsed on her around 7:45 am on Thursday.

Following the distress call, responders and concerned citizens swiftly gathered at the scene to provide assistance and address the situation.

Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), confirmed the fatality, noting no additional injuries in the tragic incident.

“LASEMA received distress calls at approximately 8:30am, and our response team arrived promptly at 8:42 am,” Oke-Osanyitolu said.

“Upon arrival, we discovered a partial collapse of a storey building, caused by the collapse of an internal suspended beam within a room due to the structure’s aging and lack of maintenance.”

“Regrettably, an elderly woman lost her life due to the partial collapse,” he added.

As of the latest update at 10 am, a joint search and rescue operation is underway at the scene, which has been cordoned off for safety measures.

Emergency response units, including the LASEMA Response Team, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, paramedics, and the Lagos Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), are actively engaged to ensure safety and maintain order.

“The affected area has been cordoned off, and we have alerted LABCA (Lagos State Building Control Agency) for further necessary actions,” Oke-Osanyitolu emphasized.

11/16/2023
Just In: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike

The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Wednesday night suspended the ongoing strike.

The unions said the suspension followed the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Our correspondent gathered that the meeting which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm lasted for close to one hour during which various affiliates and state chapters reviewed the outcome of the meeting held between the leaders of the organised labour and Ribadu.

The National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview in Abuja.

“The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words,” he said.

The labour leaders met with Ribadu alongside the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, at the Office of the NSA on Wednesday afternoon.

The NSA had announced that the individuals responsible for the brutalisation of Ajaero had been arrested.

The organised labour is protesting against the alleged brutalisation of its National President, Joe Ajaero, and the failure of the government to implement some of the agreements reached on October 2, 2023 effectively.

11/15/2023
Alleged N27m Fraud: Developer Uche Okoli, Firm Face 17-Count Charge

An Estate Developer, Mr Uche Okoli and his firm, MultiShelter Nigeria Limited, have been dragged to court over an allegation of N27million fraud by the federal government.

The duo are to be arraigned before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory on December 4, 2023.

Okoli was said to have collected money illegally from one of the subscribers to the estate at various times.

In charge number CR/721/2023, dated September 15 and filed on October 10, 2023, the respondents were accused of collecting N27m from one Kelechi Anuebunwa, at various times under the pretence of selling to her a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver spoon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja, which property was presented to her as that of the Defendants which pretense they knew was false having earlier alienated their title to the said property and they thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Ac 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act

In the charge, he was said to have forged the title documents relating to the property and presented it as genuine to defraud the subscriber.

Parts of the 17-count charge bread, “That you Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the managing director of Multi shelter Nigeria Limited and you Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited on or about the 22nd day of May 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Five Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira (5,100,000) from one Kelechi C Kingsley Anuebunwa under ihe pretence of selling to her a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver spoon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja which property you presented to her as your own which pretense you knew was false having earlier alienated your title to the said property and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Ac 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you, Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the Monaging Director of Multi shelfer Nigeria Limited and you MultiShelter Nigeria Limited on or about the 20th day of September 2018 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000} from one Kelechi C. Kingsley Anuebunwa under the pretence of selling to him a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver Spoon Court located at >of 13 Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja which Property you prresented to her as your own which pretense you KNEW was false having earlier alienated your title to the said property and you thereby conmitted an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the Managing Director of Multi shelter Nigeria Limited and you Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited on or about the 3rd day of July 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) from one Kelechi C Kingsley Anuebunwa under the pretence of selling to her a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver Sooon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja -which property you represented to her as your own which pretense you knew was false having earlier alienated your title to the said property and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee ond Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you, Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and th Managing Director of Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited and you, MultiShelter Nigeria Limited sometime in 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, forged an agreement dated 17th May 2012 purportedly signed by Mr Kingsley Anuegbunwa as the purchaser of Plot 23 in an estate called Silver Sooon Co located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja and Mul? Shelter limited as the Developer of the said property and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under section 364 of the same Act.

That you Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the Managing Director of Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited and you, Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited sometime in 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, used as genuine a document titled agreement dated 17! May 2012 purportedly signed by Mr Kingsley Anuegbunwa as the purchaser of Plot 23 in an eg called Silver Sooon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastrat lone rid Dutse District, Abuja and Multi shelter limited‘as the Developer Of the said property and thereby committed an offence Contrary to section 356 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under section 364 of the some Act.

11/15/2023
Appeal Court Dismisses PDP’s Appeal Against Sanwo-Olu’s Victory

In a significant development, the appeal court in Lagos has upheld the tribunal’s ruling, validating Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat’s positions as Governor and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, respectively.

The court’s justices, comprising Justice Yargata Nimpa, Justice Samuel Bola, and Justice Paul Bassey, reached a unanimous decision to dismiss the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) appeal on grounds of lacking merit.

The affirmation of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat’s victory by the appeal court solidifies their mandate following the tribunal’s initial judgment.

Justice Yargata Nimpa led the delivery of this pivotal verdict, cementing the continuation of the duo in their respective roles within the Lagos State government.

11/15/2023
Defence Perm Sec Commissions 30-Seater Buses To Boost Staff Welfare

The three buses commissioned by the Defence Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni has said that the Federal Government was committed to boosting the welfare of staff by providing incentives that would make them happy and be committed to their work.

He stated this when he commissioned the state-of-the-art three 30-seater buses on Tuesday, at in Ship House, Abuja.

Speaking during the commissioning, Dr. Kana said the buses were provided to support and augment the welfare of staff in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8 Point Renewed Hope Agenda and to implement the Federal Civil Service Strategic and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) reforms.

In addition, the Permanent Secretary said that the buses would ease transportation logistics that will contribute to a positive and motivated workforce.

“As we celebrate this milestone, the Ministry reiterates its commitments to supporting the welfare and professional growth of the staff,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude for the unwavering dedication of staff to work, saying to whom much is given, much is expected. Dr. Kana further stated that log book would be attached to the well-trained drivers in order to ensure maintenance and sustainability of the bus scheme which he hopes will continue to increase in numbers.

The highpoint of the event was the test run of one of the buses by the Permanent Secretary to signal the commissioning of the well equipped 30-seater buses for use by the staff.

11/15/2023