Category: Happenings

Police operatives in Ogun State have arrested a 28-year-old man, Samuel Ani, for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 14-year-old girl in Sagamu area of the state.

The suspect was arrested after the girl’s father filed a complaint at the police station on Wednesday, November 13. The command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, in a statement on Friday, said the suspect was caught in the act and has confessed to the crime.

“The father, known only as Paul, had approached the division to report the crime suspect committed against his daughter. The suspect allegedly defiled the minor and is also accused of impr3gnating her. The 28-year-old suspect had been arrested and detained by the command,” she said.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has stated that, without divine intervention, the exchange rate could have reached ₦10,000 for $1.

Speaking at the Special Holy Ghost Congress in Abuja, he attributed Nigeria’s financial struggles to its reliance on fuel imports and the ongoing issue of non-operational refineries.

According to him, “We need help, and it’s not human help; it’s divine help. Before our current president took office, we were aware that the root of our financial issues lay in the importation of petrol.

Despite having oil, we continued to import petrol and waste billions on refineries that did not operate effectively. When the president cancelled the subsidy on petrol imports, those who benefited from it became upset and created more problems.”

As the naira continued to decline rapidly, Adeboye said that he prayed and was grateful that others joined him in prayer. “If God hadn’t intervened, $1 could have been worth N10,000 by now.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed lawyer and public affairs analyst Daniel Bwala as his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications at the State House.

Bwala’s appointment was announced alongside three other key appointments on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The additional appointees include Mr. Olawale Olopade as Director-General of the National Sports Commission; Dr. Abisoye Fagade as Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism; and Dr. Adebowale Adedokun as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

This announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. President Tinubu urged the new appointees to perform their duties with commitment, patriotism, and excellence.

Ibrahim Yau, the Deputy Comptroller of Corrections of the custodial facility in Suleja, Niger State, has said managing custodial facilities in Nigeria has become more difficult due to the economic challenges in the country.

Yau made this statement recently during a visit by officials of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, LACoN, to the facility as part of efforts to improve the conditions of inmates and provide free legal services, DailyPost reports.

He lamented the poor daily feeding allowance which, according to him, is insufficient to provide decent meals for the inmates, adding that the centre’s capacity of 250 inmates has been stretched to 405.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo shared that he found a dead bat on his bed shortly before being declared the winner of the September 21 governorship election.

He recounted the experience during a post-swearing-in thanksgiving service held Wednesday night at Dr Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. “I want to thank God. In this last election, while I was praising God, they (traducers) were busy operating from Arise.

They were busy operating from Facebook. They were busy operating from Channels. But, I took the battle to God because I know the secret. A few days to the election, they said this guy (Okpebholo) is crazy. We gathered to praise God in this state.

They said, ‘What is he doing?’ They were there at Arise. But, I was listening to the voice of God. I won the battle. After the election, on Sunday morning, I came to my room. I found a bat had died on my bed, without me shooting any arrow. But the spirit of God was there.

The arrow of God; the hand of God delivered me. I am grateful to the men of God that stood in the gap. I am grateful to those that believe that with God, all things are possible. And I will give you one advice: trust in God alone because he will do it for you,” the governor said.

The Federal Government announced that Nigeria requires $10 billion in power sector investment over the next five to ten years to achieve a 24-hour electricity supply.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, shared this on Wednesday, October 13, in Abuja. He noted that the government cannot tackle the country’s power sector challenges alone, highlighting the need for private sector partnerships.

“Achieving 24-hour power supply within 10 years requires a funding commitment of around $10 billion, which the government alone cannot provide. This is why we must partner with the private sector through PPPs, while retaining government interest,” he said.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has stated that the federal government is working to address the country’s security challenges.

Speaking with Channels Television on Tuesday, the minister said “Nobody is resting. Not the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, not the Minister of Defence, not the Chief of Defence Staff, not the DSS. Nobody is sleeping, we are working.

This security issue is a major issue of national concern and I will not sit here and refuse to take responsibility for the security of Nigerians on behalf of the President. The President is sensitive to these issues. Do not judge the President, or this administration by the level of assurance.

Talk is cheap, the real deal is the action. We came May 29 last year, I don’t want us to bring politics into this. We all know the situations across the board, have we gotten to where we want to get to? The answer is no. Are we where we were? The answer is no. We have made progress,” he said.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has stopped importing refined petroleum products.

This was disclosed by the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, Mele Kyari, at an event in Lagos State.

He explained that NNPC now sources its fuel supply exclusively from domestic refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

According to him, “Today, NNPC does not import any product; we are taking only from domestic refineries.”

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country’s toughest economic times are over.

He shared this message on Tuesday in Edo State during the swearing-in ceremony of Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa as Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said: “This atmosphere of joy and hope resonates with the voice of the people. We have weathered the hardest days as a nation.

We have pulled back from the brink of economic collapse, and now we step forward into a time of growth. Securing the future of our economy demanded serious reform to stave off threats to the stability of this great nation.”

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the extent of corruption within the power sector is distressing enough to bring people to tears.

Olukoyede made the revelation during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday, November 12.

“As we speak, we are grappling with electricity. If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears. People were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment.

Instead of using what they call 9.0 guage, they will go and buy 5.0. Every time you see the thing tripping off, the thing gets burnt, and all of that, it falters and it collapses. It’s part of our problems,” he said.

Senator Monday Okpebholo has been sworn in as the 6th elected governor of Edo State.

This marks the end of the eight-year administration of Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 12, at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital. Okpebholo took the oath of office alongside his running mate, Dennis Idahosa.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has reached an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.

IPMAN National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this in Abuja on Monday, November 11, after a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.

He said the partnership will ensure steady, and affordable supply of PMS products nationwide. “After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we’re pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.

IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian Refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda,” he said.

A recent review of Nigeria’s debt for the second quarter, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), reveals that the average debt per Nigerian amounts to N619,501.

Data from the Debt Management Office shows that, as of June 2024, the country’s total public debt reached N134.297 trillion, SaharaReporters reports.

With the National Bureau of Statistics putting the country’s population at 216.7 million persons, it would mean that debt per capita stands at N619,501 based on the latest debt figure released by the DMO.

Of the amount owed, States owe N7.1 trillion externally while the federal government owes N55.8 trillion externally. States owe N4.2 trillion domestically while federal government owes N66.9 trillion.

The new debt figure of the country put at N134 trillion is a N13 trillion increase from the N121 trillion recorded as of March 2024.

The United State authorities have issued a wanted notice for 48-year-old Nigerian man, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, offering a $25,000 reward for tips that lead to his arrest.

The suspect, who is believed to have fled to Nigeria, faces charges of first-degree murder and two counts of inflicting serious bodily injury to a child.

The charges stem from an April 3, 2017 incident in Providence, Rhode Island, where emergency personnel found Olawusi’s 3-month-old son in critical condition, bleeding from the mouth and nose.

The infant was hospitalized in cardiac arrest with numerous inj+ries indicating long-term abuse, including skull and rib fractures.

Despite being placed on life support, the child passed away six months later. Olawusi was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree child abuse in April 2017.

He was released the same day and subsequently fled. The murder charge was added following the infant’s death October 31, 2017.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) investigation revealed that Olawusi had flown out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on June 20, 2017, using his Nigerian passport.

Investigators believe Olawusi may be receiving assistance from family members in Nigeria and that he could be a danger to other children.

In a statement, Don Freeman, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, urged anyone with information on Olawusi’s whereabouts to come forward.

Olawusi, who uses the alias Olekun Olawusi, stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has encouraged Nigerian nurses looking for better opportunities abroad to pursue their goals.

The former Governor of Anambra State stated this while addressing students of the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi-Nnukwu over the weekend.

“I have always told the Nursing Council not to restrict you people from travelling abroad after graduation. If it is not going to work for you here, go to where it will work for you. We will not advise anyone to stay where it is difficult for them.

If you want to seek greener pastures outside, please go. I’m sure that when we build a greater Nigeria, you will come back. My PA, Michael-Jude who was here with me the last time I came here has travelled abroad. He got married to a nurse, and the UK government granted his wife & her husband all rights to study, & he is now in UK. As I am now, I am looking for a new PA,” he said.

Five Nigerians were arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on Thursday for allegedly kidnapping their compatriot.

According to Philstar, the suspects, namely Evans Enwwereaku Chinemerem, David Chidera Ibegbulamo, Nwokeke Christian Ihechukwu, Nwokeke Cajothan Chinemmerem & Okonkwo Emmanuel Kosiso who are all residents of Angeles City, are facing criminal complaints of kidnapping for ransom & violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms & Ammunition Regulation Act.

Central Luzon Police director Brig.Gen. Redrico Maranan said the suspects were arrested when operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, together with Mabalacat City and Angeles City police, raided their hideout in Barangay Malabanias at 5 a.m.

Maranan added that the operation was based on information from the Anti-Kidnapping Group that the suspects kidnapped their fellow Nigerian, Kingsley Chukwuemeka Ikeagwuana, a student residing at Urban Resort Residences in Paranaque City & held the victim for ransom.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has said that the Nigerian Judiciary has a lot of upright, knowledgeable, hardworking and courageous judges, but lamented that there are a few tarnishing this reputation.

The CJN made this known on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at an event in Lagos. Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was the Chairperson of the event, used the opportunity to advice all judges to remember that as “individuals, each person is accountable to his or herself and to God”.

She stressed that public acceptance of the law also hinges on its alignment with fundamental principles, the need for clarity, stability and independence of the judiciary, as well as the fair exercise of authority by law enforcement.

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, says the present economic hardship faced by Nigerians required divine intervention.

The monarch stated this on Saturday, November 9, during the celebration of the fourth annual “Odun Olodunmare” in his palace, in Iwo.

According to him, “What Nigerians need at this time, was to go back to God and ask for forgiveness and wisdom to solve the various economic challenges facing the country. When things are going like this, we should take everybody back to God, just as I am doing today.

So that, if there is any sin of being an ingrate or ungrateful to God, then he can forgive us. We need God’s intervention and all of us need to go back to this one God, who will give us the wisdom so that all these curses will be removed from our heads.”

The officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled the attempt of an Ebonyi state businessman, identified as Orji Ogbonna Nnaorji, from sending illicit drugs London, UK.

This was revealed in a signed statement by the agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday, November 10, 2024.

NDLEA operatives on Friday 8th November arrested Nnaorji as he tried to send  32.50kg bottles of cod£ine syrup and 5.70kg cann@bis to London, UK, concealed in tiger nuts cargo through the export shed of the Lagos airport.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Orji at his warehouse in Ajao estate, Lagos.

Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has alleged that the outgoing governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, has fled Nigeria through the land borders.

Okpebholo is expected to be sworn into office on Tuesday, meaning that Obaseki will lose his immunity. Obaseki last week said he heard that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was planning to arrest him after the expiration of his tenure as governor.

In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday and signed by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo said Edo people are worried by Obaseki’s reckless statements. The governor-elect in the statement raised the alarm regarding the whereabouts of Obaseki, saying he reportedly fled Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Friday, using a disguised bus.

The statement accused Obaseki of chasing out everyone from the Government House on Friday before escaping to a yet-to-be known location more than 72 hours before his official departure from office.

The statement further accused Obaseki of making false claims to shift attention away from his alleged plan to leave the country through the land borders.

“As of Friday, 8th of November, the whereabouts of Obaseki are unknown. He has chased everyone out of Edo State Government House. He has abandoned governance in the State, and he is on the run. He has escaped through the road out of Benin.

He did not pass through the airport. If he is as popular as he claims, why did he not use the airport to escape? Instead, he hired a bus and disguised while escaping from Edo State.

A newly proposed age of consent law would allow old men in Iraq to marry children as young as nine years old, and “legalise child rape” activists claim.

According to the Mirror, Ultra-conservative Shia Muslim parties have launched a bid to pass a new law that would slash the existing age of consent in the pariah nation in half from the existing limit of 18. The changes, proposed by the dominant Shia coalition, would peel back the national “personal status law”.

Replacing the major legislation, also known as Law 188, would further roll back women’s rights, depriving them of the ability to divorce their partners, have custody for their children, and their inheritance. The latest proposals, initially announced in August 2024, would see one of the most progressive laws in the Middle East fully repealed, and has sparked outrage among women’s rights activists.

According to reports, the law passed its second reading in Iraq’s parliament on September 16, and the government has claimed the move would align the country’s governance closer to the strict interpretation of Islamic law. Sensationally, the government has even argued it would protect young girls from “immoral relationships”.

Activists, who were able to defeat attempts to pass similar laws in 2014 and 2017, are urgently attempting to thwart the latest bid. Raya Faiq, the coordinator for a coalition of groups mounting a challenge to the potential law change, said the proposals were a “catastrophe for women” as Iraqi MPs joined her efforts in August.