There was an uproar at the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday following the 2025 budget presentation by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.
In a widely circulating video seen by Leading reporters, Okpebholo could be seen struggling to perfectly pronounce the appropriation presented to the assembly members.
After several attempts to pronounce the figure, okehpbolo said ‘Let me take this again, it is confusing me’.
Watch video below:
Human right lawyer Dele Farotimi has been remanded by the Chief Magistrates’ Court at the Correctional custody in Ado-Ekiti, till next Friday, December 20, for the ruling on his bail application.
Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola had accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’
Police prosecuting counsel, Mr. Samson Osobu, substituted amended 14 counts charges against the human rights lawyer at the adjourned hearing on Tuesday.
The defence counsel, Mr. Taiwo Adeniji, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail, saying the alleged offence is bailable.
According to him, the defendant is a lawyer of 25 years standing with verifiable addresses, saying what is important is application for the bail of his client.
The application for bail was premised on Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the FRN 1999, Art 6 African charter and Peoples rights.
The prosecuting counsel objected to the bail application.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has named its command and control centre after President Bola Tinubu.
The Controller General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, announced this at the inauguration of the Centre in Abuja on Tuesday by the President.
“It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today, as we mark a momentous occasion in the history of the Nigeria Immigration Service and, indeed, in the development of our great nation.
“Today, we gather to commission the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex—BATTIC—here at the NIS Headquarters,” Mrs Nandap said.
“This cutting-edge facility is a true testament to Nigeria’s forward-thinking approach to digital transformation and national security.
“BATTIC is more than just a building; it is a leap forward, a bold step in modernizing our immigration infrastructure, and a powerful tool in our ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation’s borders, manage migration effectively, and enhance national security”, the CG added.
Mrs Nandap who commended the President for the reforms in the Service and his support for the projects, said the Centre has achieved certification with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and integrated with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
She also lauded the National Security Adviser to the President, the Ministers of Interior, Aviation, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN for their contributions to the success of the projects.
The Immigration boss said the project would ensure the integrity and accountability of individuals entering Nigeria.
Tragedy struck in Elebele Community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as a 22-year-old man, identified as Godwin, reportedly stabbed his mother to death over claims that she hindered his destiny and wealth.
Community members revealed that Godwin recently returned to Elebele after spending months in Benin City, Edo State. Reports suggest that the suspect had been behaving strangely since his return, alleging that a spiritualist, referred to as “Baba,” told him his mother was responsible for his misfortunes.
Some residents also claimed that the deceased had been warned by a pastor to avoid accepting any unusual gifts from her son, citing an impending danger.
Confirming the incident, Elebele Community Youth President, Comrade Precious Okala, disclosed that the suspect attacked his mother during an argument, stabbing her in the stomach. “Since he came back from Benin City, he has been behaving in a strange manner. On the day of the incident, he reportedly struggled with his mother and stabbed her, claiming that she held his destiny and wealth,” Okala said.
Following the attack, the youth in the community detained the suspect and alerted authorities.
The spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, ASP Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident, adding that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, has declared an indefinite strike following the Bayelsa State Government’s alleged failure to meet key agreements reached with the union.
The decision, announced on Tuesday after a meeting at the union’s secretariat, stems from unresolved issues, including irregular salary payments and other unmet commitments. The industrial action is expected to disrupt academic activities at the state-owned university, with further details on the union’s demands and the strike’s implications anticipated in the coming days.
Recall that the Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of ASUU has also declared an indefinite strike, effective December 6, 2024. The action is in protest against the Lagos State Government’s failure to implement a salary increase of 25% to 35% for academic staff, a policy approved in January 2023.
According to a statement from ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, and Secretary, Sylvester Idowu, the increment has been implemented in federal universities and 18 state-owned universities but remains unpaid at LASU.
Meanwhile, the union has urged students to disregard statements from the university management and Students’ Union, which claim that academic activities are unaffected despite strikes led by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Related Institutions (NASU) at the institution.
The ASUU-LASU strike is expected to escalate tensions between the union and the Lagos State Government as negotiations stall.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the remand of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the Kuje correctional centre until January 29, 2025.
The erstwhile governor’s trial has also been adjourned till February 25, 2025.
The development comes after the court rejected Bello’s bail application, citing procedural irregularities in the filing of the application.
According to Justice Maryanne Anenih, the bail application was premature as it was filed before Bello was present in court or in custody.
Bello, alongside two others, is facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N110 billion money laundering case.
The defendants, in case number CR/7781, face charges of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and unlawful possession of property.
According to the EFCC, the former governor is accused of misappropriating state funds to acquire several properties, including No. 35 Danube Street in Maitama District, Abuja (worth N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03 in Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (worth N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street in Asokoro, Abuja (worth N920 million).
The former governor has been in detention since November 25.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has announced a three-day warning strike in Lagos State, slated to run from Wednesday, December 11, to Friday, December 13, 2024.
In a letter dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the union’s Secretary, Oloruntoba Odumosu, NANNM disclosed that the strike will be carried out in collaboration with other unions in the health sector to protest the Lagos State Government’s handling of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment.
“The three-day warning strike is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, and will continue until Friday, December 13, 2024, in collaboration with other sister unions in the health sector,” the letter stated.
The union criticized the state government for what it described as discriminatory practices in implementing the salary adjustments. While doctors under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure have received their adjustments, other health workers, including nurses and allied health professionals, have reportedly been excluded. “The government’s failure to implement the adjustment for other health professionals is intolerable and must be addressed,” NANNM stated.
Adding to the concerns, the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has also expressed dissatisfaction over the delayed implementation of the 25% CONHESS adjustment. In a letter signed by its State Secretary, Kabiawu Kamaldeen, the union called for unity among health workers, urging members to prepare for the strike. “This notice serves as a clarion call for mobilisation and preparedness. Let us be resolute in this struggle for a fruitful outcome,” the letter read.
Similarly, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) have voiced their frustrations, accusing the government of neglecting the contributions of non-medical health workers. In a statement, JOHESU condemned the state government’s actions, describing them as divisive and demoralizing. “Despite the essential contributions we make to healthcare delivery in Lagos State, the government’s response to our legitimate requests has been nothing short of neglect,” the union said.
The unions have resolved to press for a resolution that ensures fair treatment and equity for all health workers in the state.
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol was barred from leaving the country on Monday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed. The development comes less than a week after Yoon caused political turmoil by briefly imposing martial law.
On the night of December 3, Yoon deployed special forces and helicopters to parliament, a move lawmakers swiftly overturned by rejecting his decree. Despite narrowly surviving an impeachment motion in parliament on Saturday, Yoon faces mounting public discontent, with large protests calling for his removal.
The president is now under investigation for alleged insurrection, alongside several close allies. According to immigration services commissioner Bae Sang-up, who addressed a parliamentary hearing on Monday, Yoon is the first sitting South Korean president to face a travel ban.
Others affected by travel restrictions include former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, currently in detention, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min. General Park An-su, who oversaw the martial law operation, and Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung are also barred from leaving the country.
Investigators brought General Park in for further questioning on Monday as part of ongoing probes into last week’s events.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked Kakin Dawa village in Gidan Goga district, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, abducting over 50 women and children.
The assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons, reportedly stormed the community around 1:30 am on Sunday, moving from house to house in their assault.
A resident of the village, speaking on the incident, said, “Everyone started running because the armed bandits have been targeting our village. Later, we discovered that more than 50 of our women were abducted.” He added that the victims include young girls and married women.
The resident appealed to the federal and Zamfara State governments to deploy more security personnel to the area to combat the attackers and prevent further incidents.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, has declared an indefinite strike over the Lagos State Government’s alleged failure to implement the federally approved salary increments of 25% and 35% for its members since January 2023.
This development was announced in a statement jointly signed by the union’s Chairperson, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, and Secretary, Sylvester Idowu.
According to the statement, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has refused to implement the salary adjustments, which have already been effected in federal universities and 18 state universities across the country.
The union stated that the strike aligns with the decision of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of all staff unions at LASU. A formal letter has been sent to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and Governor Sanwo-Olu to notify them of the action.
ASUU-LASU also called on the Lagos State Government to harmonize its salary structure with those of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), where academic staff reportedly earn higher salaries.
The union noted that the state government has failed to act on the recommendations of its own committee on salary harmonization, adding that this inaction has exacerbated the situation.
Addressing claims by some student leaders that the strike only involves ASUU, the union clarified that the action is collective and involves all staff unions at LASU.
“We are aware that the state government and university management are making efforts to resolve the situation, but until then, the strike will continue,” the union stated.
It also urged students to refrain from meddling in matters related to staff welfare, emphasizing that the issue is between the university’s staff and the government.
