The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill to establish the election offences tribunal.
The bill, which is a consolidation of several bills including a Senate version, was debated on Thursday.
The bill prescribes 20 years jail time for ballot box snatchers.
It would be recalled that the Senate had last year passed the bill and transmitted it to the House for concurrence.
Wilfred Ndidi is back in full training at Leicester City after recovering from the knee injury which sidelined him towards the end of last season.
Ndidi picked up the injury in a UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 clash against French club, Stade Rennes.
The Nigerian international went under the knife a few days later.
The injury forced him to miss Nigeria’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against the Black Stars of Ghana in March.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Lisbon, called for an increase in the volume of trade with Portugal as well as diversification to non-oil products.
The President spoke at an Economic Seminar between Nigeria and Portugal businesses during his State Visit.
The Nigerian leader said the two countries were in dire need of new investment opportunities.
Buhari cited the devastation on global economies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Senator Shehu Sani has condemned the attack on Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State which led to the murder of at least 43 people including 30 soldiers and seven mobile police personnel and civilians.
Sources had confirmed that armed men suspected to be bandits attacked a mining site in the community, killing unsuspecting workers and abducting several Chinese nationals.
Reacting, Sani, a former Kaduna State Governorship aspirant, condemned the massacre.
In a recent tweet on his verified Twitter handle, the former lawmaker stated that it was risky, to mine Gold in such an area.
The Lagos State Government has jacked up the fare of the Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) with effect from July 13, 2022 across all routes in the
metropolis.
The new fare sees an addition of N100 to the old fare being
charged in all routes.
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority’s (LAMATA) Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, Kolawole Ojelabi, in a statement on Thursday said the hike was due to high operating costs.
He said the increase was aimed at ensuring sustainability of
the BRT and standard route schemes.
The African Union (AU) has suspended seven members —
including two Nigerians — of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council
(ECOSOCC) over alleged misconduct.
Tunji Asaolu and John Oba are the two Nigerians on the list
of suspended members.
Others suspended include Abozer Elligai Elmana (Sudan);
Abdurrahman Mokhtar (Libya); Roll Stephane Ngomat (Gabon); El Hacene Abdallah
Bah Mbareck (Mauritania), and Shem Ochuodho (Kenya).
According to the AU, a report by a probe panel set up to investigate allegations against the seven persons made “findings of misconduct/infringement of AU legal norms (violation of Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of ECOSOCC and provisions of the AU Code of Ethics and Conduct)”.
The federal government has increased the tax on tobacco
products including shisha and cigarettes from 20 percent to 30 percent.
Olorunnimbe Mamora, minister of state for health, made this
known on Tuesday at a media briefing in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022
World No Tobacco Day, themed ‘Tobacco: A Threat To Our Environment’.
He said the tax is aimed at discouraging consumption of
tobacco products.
Mamora said the new tax took effect on June 1, 2022.
Justice Monisola Abodunde of an Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 27-year-old Babalola Olatomide to life imprisonment for offences bordering on armed robbery and attempted murder.
The charge read that Babalola Olatomide, on the 23rd of January, 2019 at Falegan Estate, Ado Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division, robbed one Ajayi Habeeb Bolakale of his phone and laptop.
At the time of the robbery, he was armed with an offensive weapon, a double-barrel pistol, and also shot the victim with the double-barrel pistol.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Section 1 (2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 320 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.
A former Governor of Kaduna State and Chieftain of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Thursday, said that the
main opposition party would win the 2023 presidential election.
He, however, urged leaders of the party to close rank and
resolve all political challenges that might have arisen as a fallout of the
party’s presidential primary.
Makarfi, who spoke with newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday amid
rumour of defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, said he was
not contemplating leaving the party he joined others to form in 1999 to date.
According to him, the only reason I will quit the party is
when retiring from active politics.
Defence Headquarters on Thursday said 4,770 terrorists
comprising 864 adult males, 1,415 women and 2,490 children surrendered to the
Nigerian troops between June 1 and June 15, in the North East.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard
Onyeuko, made this know at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of
armed forces on Thursday, in FCT.
Onyeuko said the intensified operations of troops of
Operation Hadin Kai across the North East Zone led to the rescue of abducted
persons, neutralising of terrorists, arrest of terrorist members, recovery of
arms and ammunition and other security-related items.
Onyeuko said the troops of 152 Battalion had between June 17
and June 21, met with fleeing Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State West Africa
Province fighters at Buduwa in Bama Local Government Area of Borno and
eliminated seven of them.
Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun, says he pays N800 million
to retirees in the state monthly.
He said this in the governorship debate organised by the BBC
on Thursday.
The state’s election is scheduled to be held on July 16.
The governor, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election, said he has not owed pensioners since he assumed office in November, 2019.
A delegation of northern leaders, including Governor Nasir
El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, has been
assigned to meet with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress, Bola Tinubu, over ‘vital concerns’ regarding his proposed running
mate.
The development comes barely 24 hours after the defection of
the two-term Governor of Kano State and Senator representing Kano Central
Senatorial district, Ibrahim Shekarau.
Shekarau, whose defection was announced on Wednesday by the
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during the plenary, had defected from the All
Progressive Party to team up with the presidential candidate of New Nigeria
Peoples Party, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, in May.
Just as some of his contemporaries who left in a gale of
defection, Shekarau stated in his resignation letter that he dumped the ruling
APC over the unresolved issues of injustice, marginalisation and unfairness by
Kano State Governor.
Catholic Priest, Rev Fr. Vitus Borogo, who was killed by bandits in Kaduna State, has been buried.
It was reported that the incident happened on Saturday at the Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia Road, after a raid on the farm.
Borogo was buried on Thursday as over 700 Catholic priests held a peaceful protest during the burial
Speaking at the Queen of Apostle Catholic Church, Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Reverend Matthew Ndagoso, lamented the rising insecurity in the country.
Beatrice, wife of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was on Thursday denied access to him when the lawmaker appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in the United Kingdom over organ harvesting charges.
Beatrice had during the hearing asked the court to allow her to appear by his side because they have not seen each other since their last hearing last Thursday
Her request was, however, denied and her husband denied bail
Channels TV reports that he was denied bail because he is a powerful man and is considered a flight risk.
The leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the
North-West have demanded the position of vice president ahead of the July 15
deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the
substitution of candidates by political parties where necessary.
Against this background, the leaders of the party from the
region have decided to engage the presidential candidate of the party, Senator
Bola Tinubu, to make their views known.
The North-West leaders are coming out for the first time
after the special convention of the party which produced Tinubu to make a
demand for the position.
The position of the North-West APC leaders was contained in
a statement issued by the APC National Vice-Chairman (North-West), Dr. Salihu
Lukman after their meeting held on Thursday in Kaduna.
Former Media Aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno
Omokri, has cautioned members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against
disparaging Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Samuel Ortom of Benue
State.
Omokri said Wike and Ortom laboured to build the opposition,
hence should not be disparaged.
The staunch supporter of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku
Abubakar said the party should appeal and listen to both governors.
In a tweet, Omokri said PDP should accommodate Wike and
Ortom.
A popular singer, Habib Okikiola, also known as Portable has reported himself at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
This followed an order by the police that he should report himself at the nearest police station for assaulting a young man known as DJ Chicken, in a viral video.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Portable “has reported at the command’s headquarters Eleweran on Wednesday 29th of June 2022.”
He said the Zazu singer arrived in Eleweran at 5pm with his father and his manager, after which he was taken to the Public Complaints Bureau office by the State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole.
Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has re-appointed Baba Nasara as his Special Adviser on Due Process and Project Monitoring Bureau.
He also appointed eight more Special Assistants into his workforce.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State, Adamu Abdulkadir Fanini.
Nasara was reappointed as Special Adviser, Due Process and Project Monitoring Bureau after he lost his bid for a ticket into the State House of Assembly to represent the Gwaram constituency in the just party primary election.
Super Eagles midfielders, Moses Simon and Akinkunmi Amoo
have been shortlisted in the nominees’ list for the Confederation of African
Football Awards 2022.
CAF released the list of nominees in different categories
for male footballers on Thursday with Africa Cup of Nations winner Sadio Mane,
and former Liverpool teammate, Mohammed Salah making the nominees’ list.
Simon, who plies his trade in France with FC Nantes, was the
only Nigerian player nominated in the Player of The Year (Men) category.
The Jos-born speedster was pivotal to Nantes 2021/22 season,
where they finished ninth in the Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France after
beating Nice in the final.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the low rate of Permanent
Voter’s Cards (PVCs) collection.
The electoral umpire said only 6,382 Permanent Voter’s Cards
(PVCs) out of 34,242, have been collected by their owners from the Commission’s
Headquarters in Lagos for the first and second quarters.
Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner
(REC) for Lagos State, made this disclosure on Thursday at the 8th Annual
Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by the Lagos State House of
Assembly, held simultaneously across the 40 Constituencies in the state.
Agbaje, who was a special guest at the meeting held at the
Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, expressed concern that the low rate of PVC
collection in the state is worrisome.
Senator Rochas Okorocha has sought an order of a Federal
High Court, Abuja, granting him leave to travel to the United States (U.S.) for
medical treatment.
Okorocha, through his lawyer, Daniel Alumun, made this known
on Thursday when the matter came up before Justice Inyang Ekwo, NAN reports.
Alumun, however, informed the court shortly after his case
was mentioned, that he was unable to serve the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), the complainant, respondent motion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC
counsel was not in court.
Manchester United reportedly decided against signing Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar in a swap deal with former midfielder Paul Pogba back in 2019, Express UK reports.
Neymar has continued to be linked with a departure from PSG this summer as he’s irked by comments made by the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Al-Khelaifi had recently said: “A possible departure for Neymar this summer?
“What I can tell you is that we expect all players to do a lot more than last season.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who is also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2023 general election, has picked a female vice-chancellor as his running mate.
The news broke Thursday afternoon that Fintiri chose the Vice-Chancellor of Adamawa State University (ADSU), Mubi, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, to pair with him for the general election.
Professor Kaletapwa has been the Vice-Chancellor of ADSU since she was appointed in that capacity in February 2020.
Previously, she served as Chairman of the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) and then as Commissioner for Education.
An aspirant for the seat of the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 in the inconclusive primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Dele Philips has denied the allegation on social media that he bribed the chairman and secretary of the party with the sum of N50 million.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Iyiola Oluborode, describing the allegation as baseless and lies from the pit of hell.
He said though the story was published by an unpopular and unknown online medium, there is a need to put the records straight due to unsuspecting members of the public.
According to him, the story is sponsored by enemies of the party who want to cause division among party faithful ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Chairman of Nedcomoak, a real estate company, Dr Kennedy
Okonkwo and a businessman, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money have
donated N100m to the Anambra State government to tackle insecurity in the
state.
They made the donation when they led other businessmen from
the state, including the chairman of Cubana Group, Obinna Iyiegbu, also known
as Obi Cubana, and a musician, Kingsley Okonkwo, popularly known as Kcee
Limpopo to meet with the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The group met with the governor at the government house on
Wednesday.
The donation was made to the Anambra State Security Trust Fund on behalf of their companies, which the group said was in accordance with the call for support by the state government in the fight against insecurity.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy President, and his wife,
Beatrice on Thursday appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in the
United Kingdom over organ harvesting charges.
Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were recently
arrested by the Specialist Crime Team of the Metropolitan Police in London for
alleged conspiracy to harvest the organ of a child.
The duo had been in custody since their arrest and
subsequent charge to a London court, a situation which had elicited mixed
reactions from Nigerians.
The prosecutor had claimed that David Ukpo, who alleged that
he was coerced to donate his kidney to the Senator’s daughter, is 15 years old.
Ademola Adeleke, governorship candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), says he is prepared to curb insecurity in Osun state.
The former senator said this in the governorship debate
organised by the BBC on Thursday.
The state’s election is scheduled to take place on July 16.
Speaking on the issue of insecurity and how it relates to
Western Security Network, better known as Amotekun, Adeleke said he will
empower the outfit to enable them to tackle insecurity in the state.
Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has explained why
he believes Nyesom Wike will never support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku
Abubakar.
Mr Fayose, in an interview with PremiumTimes, said power
must shift to the southern part of Nigeria in 2023 after the expiration of
President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.
The former governor also recounted how Mr Atiku “promised”
to make Mr Wike, the Rivers State governor, his running mate after he was
declared winner of the PDP presidential primary election.
According to the former Ekiti governor, Mr Atiku failed to fulfil his promise to Mr Wike when he settled for the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s former Personal Assistant on
New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has expressed fear over the growing popularity of the
presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi in some Northern States.
Ahmad said Obi’s name has metamorphosed into a movement in
Kano and Katsina States.
He warned other presidential candidates that Obi had become
a movement to beat in both States.
In a tweet, the former presidential aide said Obi may likely
claim 75 to 80 percent votes in Kano and Katsina States.
Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Delta State, and Deputy Senate President has picked Mr Ossai Osanebi as his running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
Osanebi’s nomination was contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, signed by Mr Ima Niboro, Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osanebi is currently a ranking member of the Delta House of Assembly, representing the Ndokwa East State Constituency.
Niboro expressed optimism that the running mate would add immense value to the ticket.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot has granted amnesty to six inmates of Ikot Abasi Correctional Centre who have been awaiting trial for over two years.
The six inmates are a 51-year-old father of three, Ufot Sam Udo, a native of Esa Ekpo, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, who was convicted for rape and has been diagnosed with cardiac failure and was granted pardon on compassionate grounds.
A 27-year-old, David Obot Akpan; and 26-year-old, John Henshaw UkoEkong; both from Ikot Abasi who were arrested for allegedly organizing what the Police labeled “a system of intimidation called Iceland Confraternity” were also pardoned.
Others are: David Okon Isaiah, a 32-year-old father of two from Ikot Ekpaw in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area; and Isaac Onoita, 49-year-old native of Adim in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
A chieftain of the apex Igbo socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Damien Okeke Okene, has said President Muhammadu Buhari is interested in keeping Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, incarcerated.
Okene, who is Ohanaeze’s National Vice Chairman, said Buhari is aware that the Southeast would continue to wallow in insecurity with Kanu behind bars.
Addressing newsmen, Okene said Buhari frowns at the idea of idolizing Kanu across the Southeast.
He lamented that the President’s recent utterances played a major role in preventing Kanu’s release.
Four Chinese and several workers have been reportedly
abducted by gunmen at a mining site in Ajata Aboki village in Shiroro LGA of
Niger state.
The incident was said to have occurred around 4pm on
Wednesday.
Emmanuel Umar, commissioner for internal security and
humanitarian affairs, confirmed the abduction in a statement on Thursday.
Umar said many of the joint security operatives mobilised to
the area sustained injuries, adding that the number of casualties is yet to be
confirmed.
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, has said actions are being taken to reconcile aggrieved
party members.
Atiku said this in a post on his Twitter page on Wednesday.
Recall that the post-presidential primary crisis has
engulfed the PDP.
On Wednesday, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, decried
what he described as Atiku’s ‘insult’ to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
The United States said it did not convey to Russia its plans
to bolster its force posture in Europe.
“There has been no communication with Moscow about these
changes nor is there a requirement to do that,” said the coordinator for
strategic communications at the National Security Council, John Kirby.
This was after Joe Biden announced a series of measures
meant to strengthen US and NATO forces in the region.
A second official told reporters the announcements did not
violate any agreements between Russia and NATO, which stipulate parameters for
positioning troops in Europe, CNN reported.
The national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, inaugurated its campaign council for the Osun
state governorship election.
The election is scheduled to take place on July 16. Ademola
Adeleke, a former senator, is the party’s governorship candidate.
The PDP had named Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, as
chairman of the committee.
Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Okezie
Ikpeazu of Abia; Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
of Enugu; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Godwin Obaseki of
Edo, and Samuel Ortom of Benue were appointed as vice-chairmen. But they were
all absent from the inauguration, including Diri.
Nantes are demanding €15m for their Nigerian winger, Moses Simon, who is expected to leave the club this summer.
Simon is a subject of interest from OGC Nice, Leeds United, and Brighton & Hove Albion.
There were reports that OGC Nice had agreed personal terms with the former Nantes player.
Nice are also willing to pay €10m for Simon.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started the demolition of over 100 buildings constructed on waterways at Dutse Makaranta, a populated suburb in Bwari Area Council.
Mr Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, led the demolition team to the area on Wednesday.
Attah said the demolition became necessary following the failure to heed all legal warnings by residents over the valid devastating forecast of the flooding disaster in Abuja.
He said it would be very irresponsible for any government to wait for residents who were not willing to obey extant directives.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, says the Kremlin is not threatened by Finland and Sweden joining NATO.
NAN reports that Putin said Russia will take military countermeasures.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to Turkmenistan, he said, “There is nothing to worry us in terms of Swedish and Finnish membership of NATO.’’
He rather threatened that both countries should be prepared for a Russian reaction.
Nigerian music star, Fireboy DML on Wednesday night broke
down in tears over his latest global achievement.
The singer shed some tears after performing on stage with
Grammy award winner, Ed Sheeran to their hit song ‘Peru’
The performance held at Wembley Stadium, London, which has
about 90,000 capacity, and will have Ed Sheeran perform for five nights from 24
June to 1 July.
The singer, in a viral video, was overwhelmed with emotions
and broke down in tears.
Ondo State Police Command has refuted speculations regarding
plans by terrorists to strike.
Rumors are circulating about a purported letter to a radio
station by a terror group.
On Thursday, the police advised the public not to panic over
the “false information”.
“Kindly disregard the rumour that terrorists wrote to Ilara
Mokin via Adaba 88.9FM on their intention to attack the community”, a statement
read.
Chelsea are reportedly edging closer to completing the signing of winger Raphinha from Leeds United.
According to Gianluigi Longari, Chelsea have offered a £6million per year salary package to Raphinha and are believed to be close to agreeing personal terms with the Brazilian.
Raphinha has been the subject of interest from a number of Europe’s top clubs, thanks to his performances for Leeds last season.
The 25-year-old is keen to leave Leeds and Chelsea wants to sign a forward to bolster their attack line following the departure of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan on loan.
The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries has denied
reports making the rounds that its General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka and
the church has endorsed the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Reports had emerged on social media that Pastor Lazarus was
supporting Peter Obi.
However, a statement issued by the Church’s Public Relations
Director, Pastor Louis Chidi said neither the church nor its General Overseer
made a statement in support or against a political party.
“Our attention has been drawn to publications on some social
media platforms attributed to our General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, which
were meant to portray him and the Church, the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival
Ministries, as politically inclined with sympathy for a particular political
party and its aspirant.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday night in Lisbon,
Portugal, gave assurances of a free hand to the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, reiterating the commitment of his administration to ensure
that the Commission delivers peaceful, transparent, free, fair, and credible
elections next year.
This was disclosed in a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of Nigerians
living in Portugal, the President said with the conclusion of the primaries of
the political parties, all eyes are now on the 2023 elections in Nigeria.
“We also look forward to a smooth transition to the next
government. As I have said before, our administration will not compromise on
doing the right things and the welfare of Nigerians, home and abroad,” the
President said.
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has
thrown his weight behind death penalty on those convicted for banditry,
kidnapping, cattle rustling and cultism in the State.
The Governor announced this after signing into law, a Bill
passed by the Zamfara State House of Assembly prohibiting and punishing
terrorists, cattle rustling, cultism, kidnapping and other incidental offences.
Matawalle noted that under the law, anyone found guilty of
aiding or abetting the crimes mentioned was liable to life imprisonment, twenty
years imprisonment or ten years imprisonment without option of fine
He insisted that his administration was much more ready to battle the criminal elements in the State within the ambit of the law to secure the State and restore peace, especially in communities considered as bandits’ hub
Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, has declared July
9 as Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha, also known as sallah, features the slaughtering
of ram as a practice among the Muslim faithful, during the period known as the
“festival of sacrifice”.
Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to
sacrifice his son in order to demonstrate his dedication to God.
The celebration is the second significant religious festival
in Islam, with the first being Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rivers State has arrested a physically challenged female for allegedly being in possession of 24 sacks of 231.2kgs of cannabis sativa.
Mr Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, the Assistant Commander, Media and Advocacy (NDLEA), State Command in Port Harcourt confirmed her arrest to NAN.
He stated that the NDLEA operatives conducted a search operation in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the State.
Ogbumgbada said, ”We arrested one Celina Ekeke, a notorious drug dealer, with 24 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 231.2kgs.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says religious tensions in
Nigeria are created when faith leaders do not “act responsibly” on promoting
unity.
Osinbajo spoke on Wednesday when he received a delegation
from the Kuje interfaith community, led by Sam Ogbodo, senior pastor of Kings
Palace Church International.
The vice-president met the religious leaders at the
presidential villa, Abuja.
According to a statement by Laolu Akande, his spokesman,
Osinbajo said Nigeria is facing a problem of uniting her citizens of different
religions and ethnic affiliations.
Filmmaker and rapper, JJC Skillz, has announced the end of
his marriage to his wife, Funke Akindele-Bello.
JJC Skillz, who had in April denied reports of his marriage
crisis, confirmed the development in a post on his Instagram page.
He said the last two years had been extremely difficult for
them.
He wrote, “Dear Friends and family, I need to let you know
that Funke and I have separated. While it lasted, we shared a lot of things
together and have created 2 beautiful children. The last two years have been
extremely difficult for us.
Federal lawmaker representing Kwara Central district,
Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe has revealed that about 17 delegates of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, refunded the cash he gave them during the
senatorial primary elections.
Speaking when he appeared on Channels Television on
Wednesday, the lawmaker, who was aspiring to return to the upper chamber in
2023, accused the State governor of manipulating the election in his (governor)
favour.
He, however, said the cash was for logistics, stating that
while 17 delegates refunded theirs, others did not, saying they intended voting
for him but were forced to do otherwise.
He said, “In my own election (primary), 17 delegates came
back to give me money which I gave them for logistics; others did not because
they said ‘we wanted to vote for you, but we are not allowed to vote’.
