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By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government has said  that Nigeria’s Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has not been closed by the host country.

Mr Ferdinard Nwonye, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

“The Nigerian Embassy in Democratic Republic of Congo was not shut down. There was a dispute on one of the properties of the mission where officials were residing.

“When we reported the matter to the Congolese government, the country authorities intervened immediately and the property was handed back to the Nigerian mission.

“The mission bought the property but is still in the process of updating the documents, which are still under Zaire, former name of the country.

“The Head of Mission has written to the Permanent Secretary and we are on top of the situation. I can also confirm that activities were not disrupted in our embassy in Congo.”

NAN reports that on Thursday, a video went viral on social media platforms, showing the Nigerian Embassy building in Congo under lock and key by the Congolese government.

In the video, properties belonging to the embassy were allegedly thrown out of the building causing serious damage. (NAN)

By Deborah Akpede

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced a 23-year-old car wash operator, Adeyemi Adetula, to four years imprisonment for stealing a car valued at N3millon.

The Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, pronounced the verdict after the defendant pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Osunsanmi, who did not give Adetula an option of a fine, sentenced him to a term of one year with hard labour on the first count of conspiracy and three years for stealing, but ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

“You are hereby sentenced to one year imprisonment for conspiracy and three years for stealing.

“The sentences would serve as a deterrent to others who might want to engage in similar acts,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Adetula, during arraignment on Aug.1, pleaded guilty to the two- count charge of conspiracy and stealing and was remanded in prison.

When the case was called up on Friday for a review of facts and sentencing, Adetula still admitted guilt and the magistrate consequently convicted and sentenced him.

The Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the defendant, a resident of Abule-Egba, Lagos committed the offences in the month of May at Abule-Egba, Lagos.

Ayorinde said that the defendant bolted with Mr Lucky Onaghise’s car valued at N3million.

“The complainant drove his car to the car wash centre and gave it to the defendant for washing.

“By the time the complainant looked to the direction where he parked his car for washing, he could not see the defendant nor his car and he raised an alarm.

“Colleagues at the carwash centre called the defendant’s phone severally but he refused to answer the calls.’’

Ayorinde said that the defendant’s phone was tracked and he was arrested in Ondo state but he had already sold off the car.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)

Aug. 9, 2019 (FLOWERBUDNEWS)No fewer than 300 houses and several farmlands have been destroyed by devastating floods in Ngalda, Yobe, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.

 

The floods, which followed days of persistent rainfall, also destroyed schools and livestock.

 

NAN reports that Alhaji Idi Gubana, the state’s Deputy Governor, who visited the community on Friday, expressed shock at the level of destruction and promised government’s support to the victims.

 

“The level of destruction is devastating; it is quite unfortunate. Government will provide relief materials to the victims,” Gubana said.

 

He said that Gov Mai Mala Buni, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage, had directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to provide food, clothes, mattresses and blankets to the victims.

 

“The agency will provide 140 bags of rice, 141 blankets, 141 pieces of women wrappers, fives bales of men clothes, mosquito nets, buckets, among others,” he said.

 

He assured the victims that government would work toward finding a permanent solution to the yearly flood in the area.

 

“The acting Secretary to the State Government will liaise with the Ministry of Environment and SEMA to work towards relocating people in the affected area to a more secured abode,” he said.

 

He commended the community for hosting most of the affected families in their houses.

 

“You have exhibited a good spirit of brotherliness that is worthy of commendation and emulation” he said. (NAN)

The immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, FCA, has cleared the air over a statement attributed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that it had frozen certain accounts linked to him.

 

The former governor said no account of his contained N9.9bn let alone being frozen by the EFCC. He said in the spirit of Sallah and having served Lagos State well with utmost dedication and integrity, his record is very clear and his mind joyful for the opportunity to have served the State diligently.

 

In a statement released on his behalf on Friday by his media aide, Habib Aruna, Ambode said while he did not intend to join issues with the anti-corruption agency at this time especially as there has been no communication between him and the commission on this issue, it is pertinent to clarify what he believed was a misleading import of the press statement on Tuesday.

 

According to the former governor, the accounts in question that were frozen by the Federal High Court belong to the Lagos State Government and not him or any individual. “Those accounts were opened in the course of normal operations by the Lagos State Government for its administrative purposes and not for the former Governor’s personal transactions as was being wrongly insinuated and have been operated to ensure smooth operations of government activities by previous and present administrations. The former Governor was not and will never be involved in any unauthorized use of government property and resources.

 

“We strongly believe that after four demanding years as Chief Executive of Lagos State, Mr. Ambode is entitled to some deserved rest with his family and loved ones without the unwarranted attacks on his well-earned reputation.”

 

The statement added that the former Governor believes that at this critical time in our polity, all hands must be on deck to support “our great Party the All Progressives Congress (APC) both at the State and national levels in order to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to Lagosians and Nigerians respectively.”

 

The former governor, therefore, re-assures Nigerians that he remains committed to the ideals of President Muhammadu Buhari and the founding fathers of the party for the attainment of the next level for Nigeria.

 

Former Governor Ambode also extends warm Sallah greetings to President Buhari and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the entire leadership of APC as well as every Lagosian, praying that the lessons of Sallah will serve as a catalyst for the much-needed bond and spirit of brotherliness among all and sundry in our great country

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice made by the Prophet Ibrahim and work for the unity of the nation as they celebrate Sallah.

 

Sanwo-Olu in his Sallah message on Saturday, said that ‘

“Eid al-Adha” became a symbolic event in the history of mankind, given the bounty of rewards that followed the patience and perseverance of Prophet Ibrahim, who held on tenaciously to his faith in God despite being afflicted.

 

The governor urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the prophet’s examples by eschewing tendencies that could severe the unity and stability in the country.

 

Sanwo-Olu said: “I join Muslim faithful across the country to share in the felicity of the Eid al-Adha, which comes with significant lessons for mankind.

 

“This symbolic Islamic festival is a constant reminder to us that, there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in trying periods; persistence in prayers and tenacity in our belief.

 

“It also reminds us of the sacrifice we are expected to make not only for the purpose of spiritual fulfillment, but also for the progress of mankind and development of our society.

 

“Development and progress can only be achieved in an atmosphere in which unity, peace and mutual respect reign supreme. We must, therefore, eschew tendencies that can further divide us as a people.”

 

He advised Nigerians to support the government’s efforts in creating a nation that would work for all, adding that the need to keep Nigeria on the path of development was a collective responsibility of all citizens.

 

“As a government, we are playing our part to ensure public resources are properly channeled to the benefit of the citizens.

 

“However, the citizens must ensure these energies are not wasted by shunning actions that can make these efforts difficult.

 

“This is the sacrifice we must collectively make to ensure our efforts to build a prosperous nation are not in vain.

 

“On behalf of my family and the Government of Lagos State, I wish all Muslims a happy and peaceful Eid al-Adha celebration,” he said. (NAN

A House of Representatives member, Rep. Babatunde Hunpe, has urged Muslims to make fear of Allah the foundation of their lives, as they celebrate the 2019 Eid-el-Kabir.

 

Hunpe, representing Badagry Federal Constituency, in a goodwill message on Saturday, said Eid-el-Kabir Festival symbolised the fear of Allah and the desire of man to always comply with the wish of his creator.

 

He urged the Muslim faithful to uphold their obedience to Allah in the spirit of forgiveness for one another.

 

Hunpe described Islam as a religion that upholds the spirit of love, peace and charity, and preaches harmonious living relationship with other religions adherents.

 

He also urged Muslims to expand the spiritual benefits of Sallah by ensuring and promoting peaceful co-existence with each other and among people of other faiths.

 

According to him, I am aware of the suffering of people in my constituency; I have promised to address these issues one after the other.

 

“I implore all Badagry residents to imbibe the spirit of love, tolerance and mutual respect, because these virtues are the panacea to moving the coastal town forward.

 

“Shortly after assuming office, I distributed over three thousands school uniforms to pupils in public schools in the three local government areas in Badagry.

 

“This is just the beginning of the good work that I promised my people in Badagry, more are in the pipeline.

 

“I feel the pains my people are going through daily on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, and the Federal Government has directed contractor handling the project to start palliative measure in order to make the road motorable.

 

1. “I am very optimistic that with our collective efforts, these challenges are surmountable, and we will soon overcome them,” he said. (NAN

Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who has been honoured with the US International Religious Freedom Award for risking his life to save some Christians in Jos crisis, says saving life remains his hobby

He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah on the sideline of the 2019 Hajj Pre-Arafat meeting with Stakeholders on Friday.

The event was organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to acquaint the public on its preparedness to ensure successful 2019 Hajj.

” It has always been my cardinal principle to save a life, no matter who is involved, Christian or Muslim. Life to me is so precious to be wasted,” he said.

The Imam of Yelwa central mosque, who hails from Akyomi village, Bauchi state with 18 children and three wives, however, called on Nigerians to eschew violence and tolerate one another, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.

The cleric, who is also a farmer, however, called on Nigerians to intensify prayer for God’s intervention in the various challenges confronting the country.

Abdullahi thanked Buhari for honouring him with the membership of the Ulama team and prayed to God to give him much wisdom to pilot the affairs of the nation to the yearning and aspiration of Nigerians.

The acting chairman, NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, who commended the cleric for the show of love, said President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered that Abdullahi be included in the membership of the National Ulama committee.

NAN reports that the international award-winning religious leader is among 80 others charged with the responsibility of enlightening Nigerians pilgrims in Muna.

NAN