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Nelson Ugwuagbo

BREAKING: NLC, TUC summon extraordinary NEC meeting over Wednesday strike

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 7, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Ahead of Wednesday’s nationwide strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have summoned an extraordinary National Executive Council, NEC, meeting.

During the meeting, the organized labour will review the modalities of the planned strike following the attack on the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, review the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the Organized Labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on fuel.

TUC’s National Vice-President, Tommy Etim, disclosed the summon on Tuesday.

The organized labour had on Friday last week, issued a five-day ultimatum ahead of its protest against Ajaero’s arrest in Owerri, Imo State.

The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the governor alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if their demands were not met in five days.

Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday.

November 7, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

“NITEL Ex-Workers Demand Justice: 17 Years On, Unpaid Severance Package Claims Lives”

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 7, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former employees of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication (M-tel), have taken to the streets of Abuja to protest the non-payment of their severance package 17 years post-privatisation of NITEL.

NITEL, the state-owned telecommunications company, was privatised in 2006, leading to the disengagement of many employees.

The company and its mobile arm M-Tel were eventually sold through “guided liquidation” because of its huge liabilities.

In 2015, the government finalized a transaction that saw NITEL and M-tel’s assets sold to the National Commission (NATCOM). The deal was valued at $252.521 million.

But speaking during the protest, one of the ex-workers who didn’t provide his name said the Federal Government had previously approved and allocated funds for the unpaid severance packages. He questioned the delay in disbursing the funds.

The protesting workers expressed their frustration and disappointment over the situation and demanded an urgent response from the authorities and immediate disbursement of their long-overdue severance packages.

One of the protesters said, “We need this money. I’m from Nitel, M-tel staff, disengaged over the years and they don’t want to pay us.

“The money has been assigned and approved by the Federal Government. This is seventeen good years. Many have died without being paid. What are you keeping the money for?”

November 7, 2023 0 comments

Investigation

Lagos Account Officer Jailed For Stealing Company’s N1 Million

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 7, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

An Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 31-year-old account officer, Shitu Olawale to one year imprisonment for stealing N1 million belonging to his employer, BSG Multi-Stream Ltd.

Olawale, an account officer at BSG Multi-Stream Ltd, a company that gives out loans, was charged with two counts of forgery and theft

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A Daodu who sentenced Olawale after he was found guilty, did not give him any option of a fine

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Bassey Sunday told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 11 at BSG Multi-Stream Ltd, located at Ikorodu Road, Ketu Bus Stop.

Sunday said that Olawale forged two GTB debit transaction receipts with reference numbers 09026723024911011729006307381 and 090267230511054673200630738 showing two different debit alerts of N50,000 respectively.

He said the convict stole monies the company gave him in different sums amounting to N1 million to disburse to different customers.

”The convict forged and stole on different occassions, leading the company he is employed into, to believe that he had actually given out the approved loans to its customers”, the prosecution said.

The offence, the police said, contravenes the provisions of Section 287(7) and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015

November 7, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

BREAKING: Fire guts Abuja showroom

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 6, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

A fire incident was on Monday recorded at a showroom at the popular Banex Plaza located along the Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse II, Abuja.

In a video obtained by our correspondent, the popular electronics store was seen in flames while some persons were heard screaming in the background.

As of press time, our correspondent confirmed that men of the FCT Fire Service were already on the ground in an attempt to contain the fire.

15 killed as flooding hits Kenya

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 6, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

At least 15 people have died in Kenya as floods swept away scores of houses and devastated farmland following torrential rains, the Red Cross said on Monday.

Heavy rainfall has pounded the country, particularly the bone-dry north, in recent days, and sent water gushing into homes and submerging roads, with similar scenes playing out across other parts of East Africa.

“As of yesterday, 15,264 households have been affected, with 15 casualties reported,” the Kenya Red Cross said on X, formerly Twitter.

More than 1,000 livestock have died while at least 240 acres (97 hectares) of agricultural farmland have been destroyed, it added.

The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, said last month that eastern Africa would likely encounter heavier than normal rains over the October-December period because of the El Nino phenomenon.

Kenya’s Meteorological Department also warned last week that the heavy rains were “likely to be accompanied by gusty winds”.

“The strong winds may blow off roofs, uproot trees and cause structural damages,” it said in an advisory.

Images broadcast on local media have shown flood waters inundating entire villages and sending residents fleeing for higher ground.

Dramatic footage showed a civilian chopper rescuing people from a lorry marooned in Samburu county, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) north of the capital Nairobi.

El Nino is a naturally occurring weather pattern associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.

Since the start of the current rainy season, more than 20 people have died and over 12,000 others have been forced out of their homes in Ethiopia’s Somali region due to flash flooding, the regional government said at the weekend.

BREAKING: Nigerian Court Grants Naira Marley, Sam Larry Bail Over Mohbad’s Death

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 6, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The bail is in the sum of N20 million with three sureties.

AMagistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos State has granted popular singer, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley and music promoter, Balogun Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry bail.

The bail is in the sum of N20 million with three sureties.

Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun also ordered the suspects to submit their passports and report weekly to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) at Panti, as part of the bail conditions.

Naira Marley and Sam Larry were arrested and arraigned by the police following an investigation into their alleged involvement in the death of fellow artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, who died on September 12, 2023.

November 6, 2023 0 comments

Investigation

Village head accused of raping, impregnating, infecting girl with HIV in Jigawa

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 6, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Umar Ibrahim, the Village Head of Dan Gulam in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, has been accused of raping, impregnating and infecting a girl with HIV.

This was made known via a letter dated October 16, 2023, and addressed to the Secretary of Dutse Emirate Council by the Senior State Counsel in the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice, Kabiru Abdullah, titled: “Notification of arraignment of Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of Dan Gulam) on the offense of rape contrary to Section 3 (1) (A and D) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021.”

According to the letter, Kabiru Abdullah said, “I have been directed by the Attorney General of Jigawa State to write and notify Your Highness that a complaint of rape and infection with HIV was lodged at the Office of the Attorney General by one Ya’u Muhammad in which he alleged that Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of Dan Gulam) engaged his daughter in illegal sexual intercourse which resulted in her pregnancy and infected her with HIV.”

The letter explained that upon receiving the complaint, parties were invited, and in the course of discussion with the Attorney General, Umar Ibrahim (the village head) revealed that he had filed a case of defamation against the girl, her father and one Sule Umar of Dan Gulam village before the Upper Shari’a Court in Gwaram.

It further explained that the attorney general directed for the case at the Upper Sharia Court, Gwaram, to be taken over, and all parties were referred to the CID in Dutse for investigation.

After the investigation by the CID, the letter explained that the case diary was sent to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice, saying that the legal advice was given, and it revealed prima facie a case of criminal conspiracy and rape was made against Umar Ibrahim, who, to the attorney general’s greatest dismay, is the Village Head of Dan Gulam in Gwaram Local Government Area.

It stated that in view of the above fact and that he would soon be arraigned before a court, stressing that based on the foregoing fact, the attorney general directed him to write and notify the village head of the position of the case for appropriate steps to be taken.

Reports indicated that there was pressure on the emirate to sweep the issue under the carpet despite appeals and the state government’s intervention through the office of the attorney general.

The family of the girl has called on civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations to intervene in the matter to save the girl’s life and to ensure justice is served.

The village head denied the allegation, saying that he was not the person who impregnated the girl.

He confessed that he is HIV positive and had it for the past 10 years when he married an infected widow, pointing out that that is why they are bringing that girl who has the virus and is pregnant to lay false allegations, but he swears that he didn’t do it.

November 6, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Ohanaeze Mourns Ex-Deputy President General, Ebigwei

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 4, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, weekend, expressed shock over the death of one-time Deputy President General of the pan-Igbo group, Dr Sylvanus Olisanye Ebigwei.

Ohanaeze, in a release by its National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, described the deceased as a ‘humanist, erudite scholar, and bridge-builder’.

Leading Reporters gathered that Dr Ebigwei served as the president of Aka Ikenga, Lagos; and later as the Vice President General (VPG) of Ohanaeze under Chief Nnia Nwodo as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

According to the release, “Throughout his tenure as the VPG, Chief Ebigwei’s wise counsel, moral authority, audacity of intellect, humility and nobility radiance were irresistible and disarming; and at the NEC meetings, Nwodo would cast a look at Ebigwei to solicit his validation at any critical juncture.”

The statement continued that, “Dr Ebigwei decried the inanity of double standards, identity crises and ethnic ambivalence that have pervaded the Igbo of the South-South extraction of Nigeria.”

The departed had in his book entitled ‘The History of Okpanam People and Culture’ stated that ‘Delta Ñorth, known as Anioma people, are basically Ndi Igbo’.

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Nov 1, 2023

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Ohanaeze wrote, “Ebigwei lamented that the likes of Dennis Osadebay, Col Joe Achuzia, and Ambassador Raph Uwechue were firm about their Igboness; and would turn in their graves over the recent developments, where a split personality with Igbo name, language and culture would prefer to deny his identity for a genealogical rootlessness, porridge mendacity and chameleon mentality.”

Ebigwei, the statement added, regretted that it was “after the civil war in 1970 that many persons from Anioma started to distance themselves from their original ethnic identity for political survival.”

Ogbonnia further stated that, “Ebigwei was an exemplary Anioma who detested wobbling personalities and remained steadfast to his roots until Friday, November 3, 2023 when he departed to meet his ancestors.”

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in the release, expressed dismay over the close chain of deaths of some Igbo icons of late, including Chief Joel Kroham, Prof George Obiozor, Prof Joe Irukwu, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Elder Dr UK Kalu and now Dr S. O. Ebigwei.

Born January 8, 1943, Sylvanus Olisanye Ebigwei attended St Patrick’s College, Asaba, and left as the best graduating HSC student in 1966. He proceeded to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, where he studied dentistry.

He served as the chairman, Governing Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; chairman, College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu, and chairman, Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria

November 4, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

11 die, 21 injured in Kebbi auto crash

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 4, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

No fewer than 11 persons lost their lives and 22 sustained various degrees of injuries when a truck loaded with beans and passengers from Sokoto en route to Ibadan, in Oyo State had an accident in the Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Friday.

It was gathered that the truck somersaulted after the driver lost control of the vehicle, at Giron Masa village.

Confirming this incident, the spokesman for the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Nafiu Abubakar, said the incident happened in the early hours of Friday.

“On November 3, 2023, around 6 am, there was a motor vehicle accident along Koko – Yauri Road, involving a Volvo DAF truck with number plate KWA 230 SKK, driven by one Alhaji Sule ‘m’ aged 40yrs of Gada LGA of Sokoto State.

“The truck which was loaded with passengers and bags of beans was coming from Sokoto to Ibadan, Oyo State. On reaching Giron Masa village, Shanga LGA, the driver of the truck lost control. As a result, it somersaulted and 21 passengers sustained various degrees of injuries.

Court Remands Medical Doctor, Two Other Suspects For Organ Harvesting In Plateau State

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 4, 2023

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Plateau State High Court presided over by Justice D.G Fombing, has ordered the remand of three suspected organ harvesters, Noah Kekere, Dr Phillip Dachung and Yusuf Abdullahi, at the Jos Correctional Centre.

The suspects were remanded on Friday, after their arraignment at the State High Court 9 by the state Director of Public Prosecution, Barrister David Williams.

Kekere was arrested by the police following an alleged removal of the right kidney of one Mrs Kehinde Kamaru during an appendix operation, at his Murna Clinic and Maternity, located at Yanshanu community of Jos North local government area of the state.

In a suit no PL/H164/2023, between the people of Plateau State and Mr Noah Kekere, Dr Philip Dachung and Yusuf Abduallahi, the state government in the four-count charge accused the defendants of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, causing grievous hurts and removing, selling and trafficking of the kidney of Mrs Kehinde Kamaru.

The charges according to the prosecutor are contrary to section 58 and punishable under section 59 and 108 (1) of the Plateau state penal code law 2017.

After reading the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Judge, however, slated January 18 and 19, 2024 for hearing on the substantive suit.

November 4, 2023 0 comments

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