Rapper, Logos Olori, on Sunday survived a terrible accident in Lekki, Lagos.
He shared photos of the damaged vehicle, while disclosing a new vehicle is coming soon to replace the damaged car.
He also advised the government to fix the dilapidated Lekki road where he was involved in the accident.
Source : Nation Newspaper
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said Monday that more than 5,000 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian enclave since Israel launched its withering bombing campaign more than two weeks ago.
Alarm has surged about the spiraling humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid the war sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack that, Israeli officials say, killed more than 1,400 people who were gunned down, stabbed or burnt by the Islamist militants. Hamas also took more than 200 hostages. On a day when Israel’s army reported more than 300 new strikes within 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said the death toll had surged above 5,000, around 40 per cent of them children.
About a dozen trucks carrying desperately needed aid — the third convoy in three days — arrived inside Gaza from Egypt on Monday through Rafah, Gaza’s only crossing not controlled by Israel. The United States, which has brokered the entry of the aid convoys, has vowed a “continued flow” of relief goods into Gaza, even as UN aid agencies have said far more is needed.
Fighting raged unabated overnight after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed again that Israel would “erase Hamas” and as a full-scale ground invasion loomed. Gaza’s Hamas-controlled government media office said that “more than 60 were martyred in the raids” during the night — including 17 in a single strike that hit a house in Gaza’s north — and at least 10 others were killed in new strikes early Monday.
Thousands of buildings have been destroyed and more than one million people displaced in the territory that has been under siege and largely deprived of water, food and other basic supplies. The Israeli military said it had hit “over 320 military targets in the Gaza Strip” in the past 24 hours.
It said the targets “included tunnels containing Hamas terrorists, dozens of operational command centers” as well as “military compounds and observation posts” used by Islamic Jihad, another militant group.
Source : Channel News
“Alaba International Market, Ojo has been sealed up for poor waste disposal practices, failure to pay their waste bills, and gross environmental sanitation offences,” he wrote on X.
The closure is the latest in the shutting down of markets and demolition of illegal structures by the Lagos State Government.
It recently sealed but later reopened the Mile 12 International Market. The Owode Onirin Market along Ikorodu Road also faced a similar fate for indiscriminate waste disposal.
The Lagos State Government had equally shut the Ladipo Auto Parts Market and other markets for environmental infractions.
Source : Channel News
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 40-year-old Madrid, Spain-based “businessman”, Sherif Egbo Ally, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, while attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris, France, after they discovered he ingested illicit drugs.
According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Egbo was arrested on Saturday 14th October after body scanner revealed he had wraps of illicit drugs in his stomach. He was subsequently placed under observation at the agency’s exhibit recovery room where he excreted 93 pellets of heroin weighing 2.222 kilograms. He subsequently in his statement, claimed he works at a chicken hatchery farm in Madrid, Spain and also into drug trafficking business.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO imports shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos last Monday seized a consignment of 10 cartons containing 500,000 pills of tramadol 225mg branded as tapentadol.
Babafemi said the cargo, which was shipped from India through Qatar Airways with airwaybill number MAWB 319-01227236 was purported to be a transit cargo to Monrovia, Liberia, but the lid was blown open through partnership and real time intelligence sharing mechanisms between NDLEA and its Liberian counterpart.
The spokesman said an attempt by an intending passenger to Muscat, Oman on Qatar airways, Ngene Chinecherem to export 11.1 kilograms of skunk and 600 grammes of tramadol concealed in foodstuffs through the Lagos airport was thwarted by NDLEA officers who arrested him and seized the illicit substances.
In another operation, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, attached to courier companies on Sunday 15th October intercepted 1 kilograms methamphetamine concealed in containers of body cream going to New Zealand as well as another consignment of 2.5 kilograms cocaine and phenacetin hidden in walls of a carton heading to Saudi Arabia.
Babafemi said two more seizures: 112 grammes of Dimethyl Sulfone and 583 grammes of cocaine and phenacetin were made at another courier company in Lagos last Wednesday, while the Dimethyl Sulfone was concealed in the hollow of a motor driving shaft going to New Zealand, the consignment of cocaine and phenacetin was packed into a bottle of body cream heading to Saudi Arabia.
He disclosed that in Imo state, operatives on Sunday 15th October intercepted a Mercedes Benz container truck marked ABN 418 YN parked in an isolated area along Owerri – Onitsha expressway. A search of the abandoned truck led to the recovery of 168 bags of skunk weighing 1, 854 kilograms.
He added that not less than 1,381.3 kilograms of the same substance were seized in four interdiction operations in parts of Edo state including: Ekpon community, Igueben local government area , Iguiye forest in Ovia North East local government area, Iruekpen, Ndokwa West where a suspect, Monday Samuel Nwocha was arrested and Egwalor village in Onwude local government area where the duo of Obune Prince and Chika Obi was arrested and their Audi 80 salon car marked BEN 406 CL loaded with cannabis sativa, recovered.
In Kano state, an ex-convict, Aminu Suleiman, 46, was arrested along with Haruna Abdurrahaman, 41, and Ojo Esezobor, 34, at Gadar Tamburawa area of the state on Saturday 14th October while 106 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from them. Aminu was first arrested with 22 kilograms of cannabis on 3rd June 2022 and convicted by the court on 24th November 2022. Four other suspects: Inusa Ali, Yahaya Musa, Abba Audu, Ali Abubakar, and Bunu Kyari were also arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano last Monday for dealing in 75.3 kilograms of skunk.
He said while operatives of the Zone J Command of the agency seized 478 kilograms of cannabis in a forest in Ikere Ekiti last Friday, those of Ondo state command recovered a total of 928 kilograms of the same substance in a bush by Shagari market, along Ifon-Owo express road, and Ibola camp, Ipele forest.
In Borno state, a suspect, Sani Mohammed, 31, was arrested on Saturday 21st October with 182 kilograms of cannabis at Njimtilo, along Maiduguri – Damaturu road.
Babafemi said Commands across the 36 states and the FCT equally continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures in schools, communities, work places and others. Some of these include: WADA sensitization lecture for students of Ogborhill Secondary School, Aba, Abia state; WADA sensitization lecture to Students of Nana Aisha Memorial Islamiyya Secondary School, Buba-Shongo, Gombe; WADA sensitization lecture at Awe High School, Awe, same at Smiles and Surprises Academy, Onna, Akwa Ibom; WADA sensitization lecture for students of Sango High School, Ijoko, Ogun state while the Zone C Command of NDLEA along with Kwara state command also had WADA sensitization town hall meeting with principals of secondary schools from five local government areas of the state.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the arrests and seizures of the past week by officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Imo, Ondo, Kano, Edo, Zone J Commands as well as those of DOGI, charged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to continue to remain vigilant and double their efforts especially with the desperation of criminal networks to make money by all means towards the end of the year season.
Source : Arise News
The supreme court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.
A seven-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Inyang Okorowo reserved judgment after parties in the appeal adopted their respective briefs of arguments on Monday.
Mr Abubakr is challenging the judgment of the presidential election petitions court, which affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu.
More to follow…
… as Anambra Women Affairs Commissioner, Obinabo, warns against illegal adoption
A middle-aged woman, Oluchukwu Nwosu, has explained that economic hardship forced her into selling of her daughter’s 3-month-old baby in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The woman, who said she is 49yr-old, explained that her daughter had earlier given birth to two babies, and abandoned them for her to take care of.
She said she sold the baby for N50,000, adding that the other two sons were being cared for at the state community children’s home in Awka.
She however pleaded for forgiveness, sobbing profusely.
She said, “This is the third time my daughter Ijeoma has conceived outside of marriage.
“Due to our poor income and lack of childcare, we’ve had trouble feeding right from the time my daughter gave birth to the first baby.
“We had no other option than to take the kids to motherless babies home, especially when our daughter refused to tell us who’s responsible for her pregnancy.
“I came across a buyer, one Tochukwu Asiegbu, who approached me, after bargaining, paid me the agreed sum.”
Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, said the 3-month-old baby sold by the grandmother has been rescued.
She said the rescue followed report by mother of the baby, Ijeoma Nwosu, who claimed that her mother, forcefully sold her baby soon after he was born, and refused to disclose the child’s whereabouts.
She added that those involved in the act have all been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
She said, “Following receipt of the allegation, I quickly swung into action to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
“After barely one month of consistent intelligence surveillance by officials in the Ministry, the offenders were caught.”
The Women Affairs Commissioner Obinabo, who regretted growing rate of illegal adoption of children in the state despite government’s efforts to put an end to such nefarious activities, warned that anyone found involved in any form of unlawful adoption must face legal action.
The Nigerian Senate is set to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to allow for diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on essential service abroad, such as military, paramilitary, and other security personnel abroad, Embassy staff, and other citizens.
This was contained in a communiqué issued by the senate at the end of its retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State.
The new amendment will make electronic transmission of results mandatory, allow uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation and allow for diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections.
The Senate noted that it was necessary for the Independent National Electoral Commission to be unbundled to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in the preparation and conduct of elections.
The communiqué stated, “Relating to the use of technology in elections, remove the ambiguity evident in Section 64 of the EA22.
“Also, make electronic transmission of results mandatory from the next general elections in 2027, including the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation.
“Introduce diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on essential service abroad, such as military, paramilitary, and other security personnel abroad, Embassy staff, and other citizens.
“Relating to political parties; stipulate sanctions for failure to submit the register of party members not later than 30 days before the date of party primaries, congresses, or conventions in relation to Section 77(3) EA22, which the political parties have observed in the breach in the 2023 elections without penalty.”
The 10th Senate further noted that it was time to develop and enact a comprehensive national security strategy that outlines the nation’s security objectives, threats, and policy priorities.
The Red Chamber added that such a strategy could serve as a guiding framework for legislative action in the security sector.
The strategy it noted would, “Address the root causes of terrorism/banditry, which is often driven by poverty, inequality, and a lack of opportunity.
“Promote community policing and engagement to identify and prevent terrorist attacks. The government should also work with civil society organizations and local/ traditional communities to identify and address security concerns. “
The Senate added that it would, “ Establish independent oversight mechanisms for the security sector. These mechanisms can help to investigate allegations of abuse and corruption and to ensure that security forces are accountable to the law.”
The Senate further agreed that legislative engagement and oversight in Nigeria’s security sector can be significantly bolstered through comprehensive legislative reforms.
“These reforms are essential for ensuring that the legislative branch is equipped with the necessary tools and mechanisms to fulfill its critical role in security sector reform,” it explained.
The Senate concluded that “The periodic engagement of the National Assembly with the security chiefs for adequate briefing. There is a need for the Senate President and the Speaker, House of Representatives to be part of the weekly security briefing that goes to the President.”
In a bid to salvage the economic situation of the country, the Senate has proposed the enactment of an Emergency Economic Intervention Bill.
It explained that “This will address critical socio-economic issues concerning foreign exchange management, tackling inflation, stimulating economic growth, and creating more jobs.
“Enforce consequences for violations of any provisions of the law regarding monetary and fiscal matters.
“This will require amendments to the relevant laws to ensure effective oversight and enforcement of the consequences, as the case may be.”
Also agreed was the “need for legislation that clearly defines the taxing rights of the three levels of government.
Senior staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have demanded the sacking of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the chairman of the commission.
They accused the chairman of neglecting the welfare of staff and prioritizing his own welfare through awards of contracts that allegedly benefit him.
In a letter addressed to Bola Tinubu by “Concerned Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nationwide,” they advised the president to immediately sack him as national chairman of INEC.
The letter, which was sent to THE WHISTLER by senior personnel of INEC who claimed to have attended some of the meetings where the staff debated the issues, called the attention of President Tinubu to 10 issues they’re aggrieved about.
They described Prof Yakubu as “a tyrant” who “sees staff as slaves” with no right to complain, and stressed that the system has become “rotten due to the leadership style of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood.”
The INEC chairman is also accused of refusing to implement the Review Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) and the 40% Peculiar Allowance to staff approved by former President Mohammad Buhari since September 2022.
The staff said they would also not benefit from the Federal government approved 35% for all federal workers to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, because “He will say there is no money.”
They claimed that the INEC chairman’s promise to increase Electoral Hazard Allowance at a meeting with staff in November 2022 was not fulfilled.
Part of the letter reads: “Prof Yakubu Mahmood has also turned the Commission into a one-man show, no Commissioner can approach him. He takes critical decisions alone without the input from other Commissioners thereby seeing himself as a god.
“Prof Yakubu Mahmood does not allow staff to air their grievances as there is no medium or mechanism to address them.
“There is serious financial misappropriation by Prof. Yakubu Mahmood as he concentrates mainly on contracts that will benefit him. Relevant authorities such as EFCC and ICPC can be invited to check INEC financial record for confirmation.”
The staff stated they could no longer wait for the end of his second tenure in November 2025 as many of their colleagues had died due to neglect of staff welfare matters.
In conclusion, the staff stated “We the entire staff of INEC are disappointed over the leadership style of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood and we hereby passed a “vote of no confidence” on him. “WE WANT HIM TO GO NOW SINCE STAFF WELFARE MATTERS IS CRITICAL TO ANY CREDIBLE ELECTION” We are tired of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood’s abuse of office.
“We humbly request Presidential intervention in this matter so that the situation will not go out of hand as the INEC Staff may not want to go on mass protest over neglect of staff welfare matters occasioned by the abuse of office leader by Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, Hon. Chairman, INEC.”
Explaining why the staff chose to write a letter to the president on the issues, a deputy director in the commission said INEC has no labour union as it is not allowed.
“Those who tried to start one two years ago were transferred out of INEC headquarters to different states by the chairman,” he said in a chat with our Reporter
When our Reporter called Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman on Tuesday, he said he was at a meeting.
But while responding to a text message on the letter, he said, “I heard about it but I have not seen it.”
— NN media.
The GUO Transport company has released an official statement condemning assault on one of her drivers by Soludo Government officials. The company described the incident as most unfortunate and traumatizing.GUO has threatened legal action against Soludo Government.
Press release obtained from the company’s website says:
Criminal Assualt on Our Driver: Our Stand – GUO
“Today, the 20th day of October 2023, one of our drivers was brutally assaulted while in transit with passengers in his vehicle for overtaking a vehicle conveying one Mr. Ossy Onukwo, (MD Awka Capital
Territory Development Authority (ACTDA). We watched with great dismay, multiple videos from
different eyewitnesses of how our driver was brutally beaten by Mr Ossy Onuko’s aides at the Awka axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. Our passengers, who unfortunately witnessed this incident are still traumatized by the horror.
“We thank the good, spirited individuals who witnessed and tried to intervene in this sad, inhumane act by this political officer and his aides. If not for their intervention, our driver would have lost his life in the hands of the daredevil Individuals acting as government officials who ordinarily have the duty to serve and protect law abiding citizens. Thankfully, the driver is currently receiving medical attention, and we pray for his complete recovery physically and mentally. Our heart goes to our passengers, who were
also left traumatized and stranded on the highway.
“Anambrarians and other Nigerian citizens have called to express their sympathy for the victim. They have also joined us in prayers for his recovery from the inhumane treatment meted to him by the
power abuse of a government official. We assure all concerned citizens that we will seek legal redress, to ensure that such acts of inhumane treatment of citizens do not keep occurring.
“We have also seen the statement from the press secretary of the Anambra state Government. We are
surprised that they would want to defend the atrocious act meted out to our driver today. Suddenly, they justify this atrocious action of theirs by contending that it is our driver’s recklessness that led to his being beaten with a machete and terribly brutalized. “The false narrative they put out without speaking to our driver or the passengers in the vehicle that witnessed the whole incident speaks volumes.
“We call on the Executive Governor of Anambra State to condemn the conduct of his officials and constitute a panel of inquiry into this incident to curtail the excesses of his officials and avoid a repeat of similar incident which could possibly have led to loss of lives and chaos in the state”.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement on Friday.
He said the president invoked the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.
The president directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Educations Sector Unions.
“In view of his determination to mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four (4) months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union,” the statement titled ‘President Tinubu Approves Partial Waiver of the ‘No Work No Pay’ Order on ASUU Members, Orders Release of Four Months of Withheld Salary’ added.
