Author: darelasisi@gmail.com

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded a man, Ayobiojo Hammed, who was allegedly caught peddling marijuana at the Lagos Command of the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Justice Sule Hassan kept Hammed, of 7, Moshalashi Street, Empire, Surulere, Lagos, in prison custody, following his plea of guilty to a one-count charge of unlawfully distributing 630 grammes of the narcotic drug. He adjourned till October 11 for review of the facts of the case and sentencing. Earlier, NDLEA prosecutor Fingere Dinneys alleged that Hammed was arrested on March 26, 2019, while distributing 630 grammes of the substance…

President Muhammadu Buhari says reducing extreme poverty and hunger is one of the cardinal objectives of his administration. The president stated this in a keynote address at the Nigeria high level side event on ‘SDG Integration – Bridging the Policy Planning – Budgeting Gap for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.’ In a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Tuesday, Buhari reiterated Nigeria’s developmental priorities. The side event was held on the margins of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA74) on Tuesday in New York. The president…

A 30-year-old lawyer, Bayo Adedokun,  on Wednesday appeared in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly threatening to kill Sen. Buruji Kashamu and Alhaji Muniru Ogunleyetwo over land disagreement. Adedokun, whose address was not given, is charged with four counts of conspiracy, attempted murder and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace. He, however, pleaded not guilty. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Steven Molo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in August at Ogombo village in Eti-Osa area of Lagos. Molo  alleged that the defendant hired 10 thugs to kill the complainants claiming that a portion of…

The Police in Imo have described as “frivolous and unfounded” the allegation of rape levelled against Kingsley Uju, a member of the House of Representatives. SP Orlando Ikeokwu, spokesman for the Imo Police Command, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the allegation against the lawmaker (Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/ Oru West Federal Constituency) was unfounded. The PPRO said investigations revealed that a woman, Mrs Nkeiruka Kamalu, 40, and other conspirators attempted to blackmail and extort money from the lawmaker. According to him, on May 5, a case of advance fee fraud, conspiracy, forgery and threat to life, was lodged against Kamalu.…

The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, Oct.1, as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary. The Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Interior, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. She said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the declaration on behalf of the federal government. The minister congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad on the commemoration of this year’s anniversary. He assured citizens of government’s commitment to end the current spate of insecurity in the country. According to him, peace and stability are necessary conditions for the development of any nation. Aregbesola, therefore, called…

Two prominent  Itsekiri groups, the Iwere United Front and the Itsekiri Development Initiatives, have faulted Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor’s opposition to the nomination of Olorogun Bernard Okumagba as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), adding that they endorse the appointment of Okumagba by President Muhammadu Buhari because it is well-deserved. In separate statements, both Itsekiri groups said the appointment of Olorogun Okumagba by President Buhari was desirable, adding that Mrs Ogbebor’s opposition is divisive and without any basis. In the statement signed by its Chairman, Bemigho Eyituoyo; and Secretary, William Eburajolo; the Iwere United Front said the…

The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum while receiving delegation of Borno State Council for Qura’nic Education to present Idris Abubakar Mohammed, the winner of King Abdulazeez international Qur’anic competition who is also an indigene of Marte LGA of Borno state that was recently held in Saudi Arabia. Governor Zulum in his address congratulated the winner, Sheikh Idris and approved a scholarship for him up to a PhD level and automatic employment after completing his studies. The governor also announced that his administration would establish Higher Islamic Schools across all the 27 Local Government Areas of the state. He…

The Coalition of Progressive Northern Movements has described those fighting the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo as unscrupulous elements set out to destabilize the country. The group’s Coordinator, Alhaji Abdulmalik Umar Usman in a statement warned that those fighting the Vice President were not protecting the interest of Northern region. This is coming as the groups also alerted Nigerians on plans by some powerful northern elements to cash out of the frenzy by sowing seed of discord in the presidency over the alleged crack in the seat of power. The statement explained, “It is rather surprising that some elements, both in…

The House of Representatives has called for the probe of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) over its alleged non-adherence to Nigeria’s local content law. The decision was taken at the House plenary on Tuesday as a result of a motion sponsored by Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) on the ‘Need to investigate Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO’s) Non-Compliance with Nigeria Local Content Act.’ The company is operating in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta state. Presenting the motion, Ossai said the enactment of Nigeria’ Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010,…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday in Abuja again waded into the growing crisis in the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) by suspending the body’s upcoming national elections. The NUJ, which is the association’s mother union, in suspending the elections asked the two electoral bodies now in place for the elections to stay action “forthwith and indefinitely”. In a letter from the union’s National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, the NUJ said the Port-Harcourt and Abuja congresses of SWAN, which would have accompanied the elections, should also be put on hold. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that…