Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

A staff member of a Microfinance bank at Kemta Oloko, Abeokuta, Mr Olumide Openaike, who has been missing since Wednesday, January 17, has been found in Mokwa, Niger State.

 

The wife of the banker, who also works at a microfinance bank in Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Temitope, broke the news to our correspondent on Thursday .

 

She said, “I am happy to tell you that my husband has been found in a place called Mokwa in Niger State. He called me on Tuesday afternoon.

 

“He got the phone from one of the residents there because he said those who abducted him collected his phone. We then told him to make a report at the police station there; the police officer on duty who spoke to us said he was in Mokwa.

 

Transportation money was then arranged and sent to him; he got to Ibadan yesterday, Wednesday, where he slept. His family members are at Ibadan. He will be back in Abeokuta today.”

 

WhatsApp message partly reads, “Please, I want to let you all know that Mr. Openaike Francis Olumide has been missing since yesterday, Wednesday (17/1/2024) in the morning on his way to his working place. That was when we last heard from him till now. No one has seen or heard anything about him which has never happened before. RCCG Ogun 28 brethren and his family have been in great shock and confusion for his disappearance.”

 

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident earlier in the week to our correspondent.

 

Odutola said, “One Temitope reported the case of a missing person involving one Olumide Openaike on Wednesday, January 17 around 7pm. He is said to be light in complexion.

 

“The police formations across the state are already aware and we shall keep spreading the message to give adequate publicity with the ultimate aim of finding him and reuniting him with his family.”

 

Temitope had on Sunday told our correspondent that her husband, who left home for his workplace on Wednesday, January 17, failed to return home

The Supreme Court, has upheld the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

 

The court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Thursday, dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Tonye Cole, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that held in the state on March 18, 2023.

the lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, the apex court said it found no reason to dislodge the concurrent verdicts of the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld Fubara’s victory at the poll.

 

The court held that Cole did not establish that the election was not conducted in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

 

It will be recalled that the APC pulled out from the case against governor Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while it was being heard by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

 

Despite the position of the party not to challenge the declaration of Fubara as winner of the gubernatorial contest by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Cole, vowed to prosecute his petition to its logical conclusion.

 

INEC had declared that Fubara of the PDP polled a total of 302,614 votes to defeat his closets rival, Cole of the APC who got a total of 95,274 votes.

 

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, Cole approached the tribunal to challenge it.

 

The appellant, among other things, alleged that the Rivers State governorship poll was marred by corrupt practices, insisting that it was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

 

More so, Cole, alleged that Fubara did not validly resign his previous position as required by the law, before the election held.

 

He alleged that Fubara continued to sign documents as the Accountant-General of Rivers State, even after he was nominated as the candidate of the PDP for the governorship election.

 

Consequently, he urged the tribunal to nullify the Certificate of Return that was issued to Fubara and declare that he was not the bonafide winner of the election.

 

Cole further prayed the tribunal to declare that he was the authentic winner of the gubernatorial contest.

 

However, both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal dismissed his case for want of merit.

 

Though the appellate court, in the verdict it delivered on November 28, 2023, affirmed the unanimous judgement of the tribunal that dismissed Cole’s case, it, however, faulted the lower court over its position that the petition was invalidated by the withdrawal of APC which has the statutory responsibility of nominating and sponsoring a candidate for the election.

 

The appellate court held that the fact that APC withdrew from the petition against Fubara’s victory, did not prohibit its candidate, Cole, from pursuing the appeal in his own right.

 

The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed a separate appeal that was entered against Fubara by the candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, in the election, Innocent Kere.

 

The appeal was dismissed after the Appellants, through their lawyer, applied to withdraw the case.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has declared a 24-hour curfew on the Mangu Local Government Area of the state with immediate effect.

 

The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.

 

He said the decision followed the deteriorating security situation in the area.

 

The statement read in the part, “Governor Mutfwang took the decision after consultations with the relevant security agencies.

 

He stated that only persons on essential duties are allowed to move within the local government area until further notice.

 

He urged all citizens, especially residents of Mangu Local Government Area, to comply with the directive and assist the security personnel by providing reliable information to restore peace and order in the area.

 

“He lamented that some people are still determined to create an atmosphere of insecurity in the state, despite the government’s efforts to end the activities of terrorist elements.

 

He stated that only persons on essential duties are allowed to move within the local government area until further notice.

 

He expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured and assured them that the government will not relent in ensuring lasting peace in the state.

 

“He promised that the curfew will be reviewed as soon as the security situation improves

The Supreme Court has released the Certified True Copy of the judgment on the suit between the Federal Government and the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

 

The apex court had, on December 15, 2024, set aside a judgment by the lower court that dismissed the terrorism charges against Kanu.

 

The appeal court had exonerated Kanu following an infringement on his fundamental human rights by the Federal Government.

 

The Supreme Court, although berated the actions of the government, ruled that Kanu must continue his trial.

 

The lead counsel for IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in an interview with our correspondent, had lamented that 37 days after judgment was delivered on the matter, the legal team had yet to receive the certified true copy of the judgment.

 

Similarly, Kanu’s family on Sunday decried the delay by the apex court in releasing the CTC of the judgment to his lawyers.

 

However, in a post on X formerly known as Twitter on Monday night, a member of the IPOB leader’s legal team, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed that the CTC of the judgment had been released to them.

 

noted that the apex court also promised to transmit the case file to the Federal High Court.

 

“Today, the Supreme Court released the CTC of its judgment in ‘The Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Nnamdi Kanu’. The Court also promised to transmit the case file to the Federal High Court by tomorrow. Sooner than later, we shall lock horns at the Federal High Court to #FreeMNK,” he said.

 

In 2015 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Kanu was first arrested.

 

He was subsequently granted bail in April 2017 and fled the country after an invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the Nigerian military in September 2017.

 

In June 2021 Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

 

He was then tried at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Armed policemen, on Tuesday, teargassed the 16 Peoples Democratic Party members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Court of Appeal.

 

The lawmakers had arrived at the Rayfield Old Government House in Jos on Tuesday morning alongside their supporters preparatory to their resumption of plenary when the incident happened

 

 

The policemen and other security operatives took over the premises of the Government House and prevented the sacked lawmakers from going into the chambers of the House of Assembly but the lawmakers had vowed not to vacate the premises.

 

Details later…

L-R:Capt.Wada, Governor Bello.Behind them is the Governor-elect,Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.

A former Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, on Saturday in Abuja, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Yahaya Bello, saying he could not but show his appreciation to the Governor for his notable achievements in the state, especially in the areas of security, healthcare, education and infrastructure.

 

He said his visit was specifically aimed at commending Governor Bello for his sterling stewardship since he assumed office in 2016 and to convey his best wishes for his future endeavours.

 

He also pledged his full support for the incoming administration in the state.

 

 

The incumbent and his predecessor also discussed state affairs, the challenges of governance at various levels, particularly within Kogi State, and broader security issues.

 

Governor Bello, while welcoming former Governor Wada to his Zone 4 residence, in Abuja, described him as an exemplary leader and a statesman of progressive qualities.

 

He acknowledged the challenges the former governor faced during his tenure and commended the diligent efforts made within the constraints of available resources, particularly given the unique political challenges of Kogi State.

 

Sir, I feel deeply honoured to host you in my house, and I want to express my gratitude for all you have done, both within and outside your time in office as governor. Those of us following your footsteps are proud of your statesmanship and exemplary leadership. Your humility, fear of God and progressive qualities are virtues everyone speaks of.

 

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“I pray that God continues to guide and protect you with good health. As you are aware, I will be handing over to the Governor-elect, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the transition event is scheduled for next week Saturday. Ododo will need our support to succeed for the overall interest of the state. I want to thank you for this honour sir,” the Governor stated.

 

ONOGWU Muhammed,Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,resigned and made the statement to The Reporters.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has announced the review of guidelines for recruitment into the Civil Defence, Fire, Correctional and Immigration Services to accommodate 35 percent slots consideration for women.

The minister said henceforth, 35 percent of recruitment into the four services under the ministry would be allocated to women.

 

At a meeting of the Board of the Civil Defence, Fire, Correctional and Immigration Services yesterday in Abuja, Dr. Tunji-Ojo said the 35 percent allocation of slots to women was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

 

Represented by the Board Chair, Tunji-Ojo, Ja’afaru Ahmed, he said “The federal government through the Board has approved the review of the guidelines for recruitment into, and promotion in all the four Services under the Ministry of Interior.

The development also come with modernisation of the operations of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The modernisation is going to be all-encompassing, training, recruitment, promotion, professionalism and capacity building and deployment of cutting-edge technologies

 

According to him, the ongoing recruitment into the Federal Fire Service would be based on the new guidelines which would focus largely on professionalism, gender mainstreaming and Federal Character principles.

 

The minister announced that all the Services would in due course release timelines for recruitments.

 

He warned Nigerians interested in applying not to patronise scammers, saying that government is already aware of some scammers who are asking for money for recruitment into the Fire Service.

 

“This is to appeal to Nigerians not to patronise scammers. Anybody asking you to pay money to be recruited into any of the Agencies is a scammer. We are aware of their activities and we will go after them.”

 

Shedding more lights on the modernisation of the Immigration Service, the Comptroller-General, Mrs Adepoju, said the Service would emphasis on capacity building, specialisation along professional lines to ensure that promotion is not a reward for redundancy.

 

A statement signed by the Minister’s Specialist Adviser, Media and Publicity, Also Babatunde, notes that other heads of service present at the meeting include Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed, the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, (NCoS), Haliru Nababa and the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, (FFS), Abdulganiyu Jaji.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, said arrests have been made of some persons in connection with feeding bandits with information in the area.

 

The minister disclosed this during a town hall meeting with the Gwagwalada area council chairman, traditional rulers, security operatives, and residents of Gwagwalada area council in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

 

Though he didn’t state the number of persons arrested or where the arrest was made, he assured residents of the Gwagwalada area not to panic as there will be improvement in the security situation in the FCT in the coming days.

 

 

 

Responding to one of the plights of residents which is limited security operatives in the area, the minister directed the commissioner of police to immediately set up two additional police divisions in the Gwagwalada area council.

 

This is the second visit Minister Wike is making in the series of area council visits to dialogue with residents and proffer possible to end insecurity in the nation’s capital.

 

Kidnapping for ransom has been on the increase in the FCT, with residents raising serious concerns about their safety.

 

On January 5, six siblings were kidnapped alongside their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriya, from their home at Zuma 1, on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja, shooting two policemen.

 

The captors released their father to go and raise N60 million ransom to secure the release of his daughters

 

One of the siblings, Nabeeha, a 400-level student of Biological Science at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was killed by the bandits on Friday, while her five sisters, including Najeebah, a 500-level Quantity Surveying student, and Nadherah, 300-level Zoology student, are still in captivity.

 

Bandits have also been operating unchallenged in the North-Western and North-Central states of the nation with Kaduna being the worst hit by banditry. Other states affected include Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Katsina.

 

The latest attacks forced President Bola Tinubu to hold an emergency security meeting on Monday