Nelson Ugwuagbo

Unidentified gunmen have struck in Anambra State, abducting Rev. Father Basil Chukwuemeka at Nkpor Junction near Onitsha. Eyewitnesses report the priest’s sudden disappearance while driving in the area, prompting swift action from the State Police Command.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, with CP Nnaghe Obono Itam assuring the Catholic community of ongoing efforts to secure the safe return of Rev. Fr. Basil Chukwuemeka.

A comprehensive manhunt is underway, supported by eyewitness cooperation, as authorities strive to ensure the priest’s safe release and apprehend the perpetrators.

The management of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), led by its Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has announced May 24, 2024, as official date for the opening of the Fund’s portal for student loan applications.

This was contained in a press statement issued Thursday evening by the media and public relations lead, NELFUND, Nasir Ayitogo.

The statement said the development marked a significant milestone in the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students.

“Through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.

“The portal provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.

“We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation,” Ayitogo stated.

He further said students can access the portal on www.nelf.gov.ng to initiate their applications.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished over 500 unauthorized structures at the popular Karmo Market in Abuja. in Abuja to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance safety in the area.

The demolition exercise was overseen by Garba Jibrin, the assistant director of the sector monitor in the Department of Development Control. Jibrin stated that the administration decided to demolish the market due to the persistent traffic bottlenecks caused by the market since the inception of Abuja.

Jibrin stated that the administration decided to demolish the market due to the persistent traffic bottlenecks caused by the market since the inception of Abuja.

There has been serious gridlocks on the Karmo road which has made it very difficult for motorists and residents of the area to access the road on a daily basis,” Jibrin explained. “So, for us to make it easy for Abuja residents, the minister said we should open up the road by ensuring that all the bottlenecks along the road are cleared.”

The FCTA has provided a new market facility for the displaced traders, which has been fully built and is ready for occupation. Jibrin emphasized that the administration has carried out extensive sensitization and notification processes to ensure a smooth transition for the traders.

The director has held meetings with stakeholders of this market more than three times. We even served them 24 hours’ notice and this is 48hours after we served them the notice. We sincerely carried them along, that is why there is success in this operation,” he said.The FCTA has also made efforts to accommodate the traders by offering a one-year free operation period in the new market and subsidized rates thereafter.

The demolition exercise also aims to address the security concerns in the area. Dr. Peter Olumuji, the secretary of the Command and Control Centre, FCTA, stated that the Karmo community has been an unplanned settlement, which has led to increased criminal activities in the area.

These people during the night time go into all types of crimes, even those who ply these routes are not safe from their nefarious activities,” Olumuji said. “What we have come to do here in conjunction with the development control by clearing this place, is going to reduce the crime rate within this axis.

This move by the FCTA is expected to bring significant improvements to the traffic flow and safety in the area, while also providing a more organized and secure market environment for traders and residents alike.

No fewer than 20 worshippers at a popular mosque in Laraba Abasawa area of Gezawa Local Government Area, Kano State, have sustained various degrees of injuries following an early morning attack on Wednesday, May 15.

Eyewitnesses say the suspect, who was yet to be identified as at the time of writing this report, poured petrol and lit fire on the mosque.

It was gathered that about 40 worshippers were in the mosque as at the time of the incident.

According to an eyewitness who craved anonymity, the incident caused tension in the area on Wednesday morning.

“the man used petrol and lit fire while the people, about 40 of them were praying. He locked the mosque after the fire,” he said.

“It took time for people outside to get aware of the incident and rescue the victims who were struggling to break out.”

The worshippers, who reportedly sustained serious injuries, have been rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.

The Kano State Police Command is yet to comment on the attack as at press time.

The Nigeria Police Force has expressed strong condemnation and outrage over a disturbing viral video that depicts a mother feeding her baby alcohol.

The shocking footage, which has sparked widespread public outcry, was shared on X.com by user Dami Adenuga, who questioned the mother’s actions with the caption, “What sort of motherhood is this?”In response to the video, the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the incident as “too bad” and vowed that the police would take immediate action.

Adejobi assured that the authorities would work tirelessly to identify the woman and hold her accountable for her irresponsible and potentially harmful behavior towards her child.

The police’s swift and unequivocal condemnation of the mother’s actions underscores the gravity of the situation and the police’s commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of children. The viral video has ignited a national conversation about child abuse, neglect, and the importance of responsible parenting, with many calling for stricter measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

As the investigation into the video continues, the police have urged the public to come forward with any information that could aid in identifying the mother and ensuring that appropriate legal and social measures are taken to address the situation and prevent similar occurrences.

Watch video below;

The federal government has suspended the 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic banking transactions that was recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).President Bola Tinubu directed the suspension of the levy’s implementation to avoid overburdening citizens already facing economic hardship.

 The directive was given to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as the cybersecurity levy is not a CBN action but rather an ONSA initiative.The levy was aimed at financial institutions, telecoms firms, and other businesses to enhance cybersecurity measures and national security. 

However, the timing was criticized as ill-suited given the current economic realities.The House of Representatives had earlier asked the CBN to withdraw the circular directing banks to charge the 0.5% levy, citing concerns that it could be misinterpreted as a tax on bank customers.
Civil society organizations also filed a lawsuit against the CBN over the levy.

The federal government confirmed the suspension of the levy on Tuesday after a two-day Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Tinubu5. The levy is currently undergoing review and has been put on hold for now.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his brother, Abubakar Sirika, and their company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, with over N19.4 billion fraud. This is the second criminal charge filed against the ex-aviation minister.

The charges are related to several aviation ministry contracts awarded by Sirika to Enginos Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger brother, Abubakar. The Sirika brothers and Enginos Nigeria Limited are scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja today.

This development comes after Sirika was last Thursday arraigned for N2.7 billion fraud before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. He was charged alongside his daughter, Fatimah; brother-in-law, Jalal Hamma, and Al-Buraq Investment Ltd. The defendants pleaded not guilty, and Justice Sylvanus Oriji granted them N100 million bail each, with the condition that they must not travel out of the country until the end of the criminal case.

The EFCC has alleged that Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation, used his position to confer unfair advantages on Enginos Nigeria Limited, which is owned by his biological brother, Abubakar. The anti-graft agency accused Sirika of violating Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

In the fresh charges, the EFCC alleged that Sirika used his position to influence the award of several contracts to his brother’s company, including a N1.345 billion contract for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport, a N3.811 billion contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport, and a N615 million contract for the procurement and installation of lift and air conditioners and power generators for the Aviation House in Abuja.

Furthermore, the EFCC alleged that Sirika had possession of an aggregate sum of N2.337 billion, which sum he knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who was the Minister of Aviation at the time.

The ex-minister’s younger brother, Abubakar, was earlier arrested and detained by the EFCC in connection with N3.212 billion paid to his company, Enginos Nigerian Limited’s bank account by the former minister.

The EFCC’s actions are part of its ongoing efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability in public office. The case is set to proceed in court, with the defendants facing serious charges of fraud and abuse of office.

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in two commissioners from Ogun and Osun States as members of the National Population Commission.

The two commissioners,  Hon. Fasuwa Johnson from Ogun State and Hon. Amidu Raheem from Osun State, were sworn in just before the Federal Executive Council meeting commenced in the Council Chamber on Monday.

The short ceremony, which entailed their citations being read and oath of allegiance being administered, was witnessed by the Vice President, Kassim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, cabinet ministers and other government officials.

The development follows a 2-day NPC’s management retreat held in Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom last week.

The NPC is the principal data mining commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, responsible for collecting, collating, analysing and publishing data about the Nigerian people and economy.

The organised labour comprising members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are staging a protest at the headquarters the electricity distribution companies in Jos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

The protest is in compliance with organised labour leadership’s directive over the recent hike in electricity tariff. The leadership of NLC and TUC were on ground at the different venues of the protest to ensure compliance.

The union members are joining their colleagues across the country to picket offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Electricity Distribution companies across the country to demand reversal of the tariff increase.

In Jos, the capital of Plateau State, the workers blocked the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), along Ahmadu Bello Way.

The action by the labour unions prevented workers of the distribution company from gaining access to their offices.

The union members in Ibadan were not also left out in the protest as they blocked the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in the state capital.

The NLC Chairman in Oyo state, Comrade Kayode Martins, while addressing the press at the premises of IBEDC, said enough is enough as Nigerians have had to cope with the backlash of economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

He said labour unions would no longer sit idly to watch things deteriorate further.

The unions asked that the Federal Government rescind its decision over electricity tariff hike and other policies that have not served Nigerians well.

Similarly, members of the NLC and TUC have shut down the headquarters of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Chanting solidarity songs, the Labour Union members sealed the PHED premises on Monday morning preventing staff of the Disco from accessing their offices.

Speaking to Channels Television, the NLC Chairman in Rivers State, Alex Agwanwor, said the recent hike is discriminatory and will further impoverish Nigerians.

Though the NERC had reviewed the tariff, the labour unions said they were picketing the agency’s office as well as the premises of distribution companies after a Sunday reversal deadline failed.

Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja, has found guilty and convicted Mrs Ramat Mba, a mother of five children, for forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, the late Abba Kyari.

The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammad, deferred the convict’s sentencing till Thursday, 16th of May, 2024, however, directed that she should be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Mba in June, 2022 on a 5-count charge bordering on cheating, fraud and forgery contrary to Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 200 and Sections 320 (b), 366 of the Penal Code Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria.

One of the counts read: “THAT you RAMAT MERCY MBA (F) sometime in October, 2019 or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently induce one Mr Ismail Adewole Oladipupo, an unsuspecting job seeker and collected the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira only N700,000.00 from him which sum was paid into your private account under the guise of securing employment for him at the National Space Research and Development Agency. (NASDRA), AND you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320(b) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria.”

In the course of the trial, ICPC’s Prosecutor, Mr Hamza Sani, Esq. led evidence before the court on how the convict, dishonestly induced her victims under the guise of securing employment for them with government agencies like Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Furthermore, the documentary evidence tendered, showed that the convict fraudulently forged a letterhead paper of the Office of the Chief of Staff to former President Muhammad Buhari, Abba Kyari and his signature.

The letter, addressed to the Chairman of ICPC, was a request for the recruitment of three individuals by the Commission. However, the late Chief of Staff, in a written correspondence that was also tendered in court as an exhibit distanced himself or his office from authorising the letter.

In his judgement, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, convicted the mother of five children on counts 1, 2, 3 and 5 which deal with cheating and forgery while she was discharged on count 4 which deals with felony.