Category: Breaking News

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to disqualify the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party, Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi, respectively, as the 2023 election approaches.

According to reports, Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled on Monday that the opposition’s suit to remove Tinubu and Obi from the 2023 presidential race was incompetent.

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“This suit qualifies as an abuse of the court process,” Justice Okorowo stated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had previously approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing Messrs Obi and Tinubu of violating the Electoral Act by naming a placeholder as running mate.
While Tinubu named Alhaji Kabiru Masari, Obi chose Doyin Okupe in tentative capacity. Both men have since replaced the candidates with Kashim Shettima (APC) and Datti-Baba Ahmed (Labour Party).

The Department of State Security Services, DSS, has provided an update on a raid on the home of Tukur Mamu, publisher of the Desert Herald and hostage negotiator for the Kaduna Train.

Mamu was apprehended by the agency on Wednesday at the request of the Nigerian military.

The DSS revealed that ‘incriminating materials’ were discovered in Mamu’s home in a statement released on Thursday evening, signed by its PRO, Peter Afunanya(Phd.).

“So far, appropriate security agencies have executed valid search warrants on Mamu’s residence and office,” the statement said.

“During the processes, incriminating materials including military accoutrements were recovered. Other items include large amounts in different currencies and denominations as well as financial transaction instruments.”

“While further investigations continue, Mamu will, sure, have a day in court.”

Queen Elizabeth II of England has died at the age of 96 on Thursday.

The queen was said to have died peacefully.

Crowd had gathered at the Buckingham Palace residence in London on Thursday as concern was growing over the Queen’s health.

Around 100 people braved torrential rain to stand at the palace gates, according to AFP, as senior royals rushed to Balmoral in Scotland, where the queen was being treated.

The Royal Family, announcing the death in a statement, said, “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The Queen’s children – Charles, Princess Anne, 72, Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58, had flocked to her Scottish Highland retreat, Balmoral.

They were joined by Charles’s sons, Prince William, and his estranged brother Prince Harry.

Two days earlier the queen had appointed Liz Truss as the 15th prime minister of her reign and was seen smiling in photographs but looking frail and using a walking stick.

One photograph of the meeting sparked alarm, showing a deep purple bruise on the monarch’s right hand.

Queen Elizabeth, the longest reigning monarch in the British history, emerged the Queen after the Second World War and reigned for 70 years.

By Seriki Adinoyi

Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Friday discharged and acquitted a former Governor of the state, Jonah Jang, over the N6.3 billion corruption charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Presided over by Justice Christy Dabup, the court also discharged and acquitted a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau state government, Mr. Yusuf Pam, who was standing trial alongside Jang.

Following the judgement, the entire court premises were thrown into rowdy jubilation by Jang supporters. Even the heavy presence of fierce looking security personnel in and around the premises could not deter the jubilant crowd that broke into loud songs in diverse languages.

Details later……

Fidelity Bank has agreed to take over the United Kingdom unit of Nigeria’s second oldest lender, Union Bank, the former said Tuesday.

It is the latest phase in the train of divestments by the latter which, beginning late last year, saw Union Bank offload 90 per cent of its shareholding to a new owner, Titan Trust.

Fidelity Bank will be acquiring Union Bank UK 100 per cent if the deal goes through, according to a binding agreement between the two, published by the Nigerian Exchange.
More details shortly…

Delta Air Lines has suspended its flights between New York- JFK and Lagos effective October 4, 2022.
Delta Air Lines exclusively disclosed via a statement that the route suspension was to fit into “the current demand environment.”

The statement however stressed that the airline was still operating its Lagos and Atlanta routes.

It read, “Delta is suspending its nonstop service between New York-JFK and Lagos to fit the current demand environment. The airline continues to operate service between Lagos and Atlanta and offers onward connections to New York and other cities across the United States.

“Customers impacted by our suspended New York-JFK to Lagos service will be re-accommodated on Delta operated flights or services operated by our joint venture partners. Delta remains committed to the Nigeria market.”

The foreign carrier resumed operations on its Lagos-Atlanta route, on September 9, 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 virus with a decision to provide customers with additional safety measures.

In that period, the airline proposed to block middle seats till March 2021, as a means of boosting travellers’ confidence and encouraging travel.

On Friday night, unknown gunmen stormed the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State’s Oguta Local Government Area (LGA) and killed four officers.

Two male officers were shot dead, while two female officers were burned to death.

According to a source, one of the slain officers had only been with the force for two weeks.

The attackers also set fire to vehicles in the police station compound, including one belonging to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
The development, which happened around 11 pm, caused panic in the area.

The hoodlums reportedly came in three vehicles; a tipper vehicle and two sienna cars and started shooting indiscriminately.

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It is understood that reinforcement has been made and the state commissioner of police, Muhammed Berde, was being expected.

Since late 2020, insecurity in Nigeria’s southeast region, especially Imo and Anambra states, has reached a disturbing level. While authorities blame the criminal activities on the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the outlawed group has always distanced itself from the mindless killings.

On Thursday, the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo sentenced Uduak Frank Akpan to death by hanging for the murder of Iniubong Umoren.

According to reports, the court discharged and acquitted the killer’s father, Frank Akpan, and sister, Bassey Anwan.

Umoren’s case drew a lot of attention from Nigerians, particularly on social media.

Late Iniubong Umoren, a Philosophy graduate from the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), was allegedly raped, murdered, and buried in a shallow grave by a suspected serial rapist and killer, Uduak-Abasi Akpan, in April 2021.
Akpan lured his victim, 26, to his family residence at Nung Ikono Obio village in Uruan Local Government Area (LGA) with a job offer where he had allegedly raped, murdered, and buried her in a shallow grave within the premises.

Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu will remain in prison until October 31st, as the case has been rescheduled.

Ekweremadu appeared in court on Thursday and will remain in custody because the judge adjourned the case until the end of October for a hearing.

It should be noted that the Nigerian senator first appeared before the Uxbridge magistrates’ court in London, where he denied all charges levelled against him.

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Both Ekweremadu and his wife were denied bail and remanded in custody while the case was adjourned to July 7, and now August 4, 2022.

However, on July 2nd, his wife, Beatrice, was granted bail under strict conditions.

It was gathered that Ekweremadu put in a request for a new counsel on Wednesday. However, the Nigerian senate ably represented by Adamu Bulkachuwa (in brown kaftan), senate committee chairman on foreign affairs, was in court to show support for Ekweremadu.

Only 20 people were allowed into the court premises to witness proceedings and any and all recording devices were barred.