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The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reversed the disqualification of former minister of petroleum, Timipre Sylva, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had, on October 9, disqualified Sylva from contesting the November 11 election in Bayelsa state.

Delivering judgment, Donatus Okorowo, presiding judge, held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution if allowed to contest again.

The judge held that Sylva was not qualified to run in the forthcoming poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also removed Sylva’s name from amended governorship candidates’ list.

The Kano Hisbah Board has apprehended eight suspected cross dressers during a wedding in Kofar Waika in Gwale Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by the Deputy Commander General of the Board, Dr Mujaheed Aminudeen-Abubakar on Tuesday in Kano.

According to the board, the suspects were arrested following a tip off by good Samaritans that young men dressed in female Fulani attire attended and were dancing at a wedding.

“Our officials, on receiving the information, went to the venue of the wedding ceremony and apprehended eight young men, including the groom, dressed in full female Fulani attire, dancing to music in their regalia,” he said.

Aminudeen-Abubakar, according to the statement, said that they confessed to the crime when arraigned before Hisbah Shari’a Court in Kano.

The Presiding judge, Khadi Tanimu-Sani, ordered that each of them be given 10 lashes of cane, pay N20,000 and produce one surety each or be remanded in correctional centre for three months.

The board, which was established in the year 2000, is saddled with the responsibilities of enjoining what is right and forbidden in Islamic ways and manners.

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Natacha Akide, aka Tacha, has reacted to the alleged plot by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Sim Fubara.

Leading Reporters reports that an alleged impeachment move against Fubara by some members of the state House of Assembly has been causing chaos in the state.

Reacting via a video message shared on her social media page, Tacha challenged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to tell the people the crimes the governor committed that warrant impeachment.

The Port Harcourt-born reality star said it was unfortunate that while the Governor was trying to settle down in office and citizens were trying to understand his policies, the state lawmakers were planning to impeach him for no reason.

She said, “You people see what’s currently going on in Rivers State, right? These are things I talked about months ago but some of you said, ‘Rest, what do you know about politics?’ You forgot that what goes around, comes around.

“Who do you tell me that a sitting Governor they are trying to impeach him. This is a Governor who just assumed office. We [citizens] are trying to understand his ideas and plans for Rivers State and they [lawmakers] are planning to impeach him with no reasons. If na say okay they are telling us Sim Fubara did this, this is the reason why he needs to be impeach. He did that, he stole this. At least that would be making sense. But they are trying to impeach a Governor that has done nothing.

“How can a current Governor be getting teargased and they are pouring water on him? What will happen to me and you? So, we are just ***. That’s what it is na.

“Tell us what Sim Fubara has done and we would stand by you and chase him out. This Governor just got into seat, let us give him a chance to show what his plans are for Rivers State. I’m sure he has good plans.

“Rivers State people stand by your Governor.”

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state has suspended the Port Harcourt N195 billion Ring Road project, which former Governor Nyesom Wike initiated.

This decision comes as the power struggle between Fubara and Wike intensifies for political control in the state.

The sudden suspension of the high-value infrastructure project underscores the growing tension between Fubara and his predecessor.

Governor Fubara’s action is seen as a precursor to a potential showdown against Wike soon. Already, Fubara has taken decisive steps by dismissing some of Wike’s loyalists from his government. The move comes in response to attempts made by lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, who are loyal to Wike, to impeach Governor Fubara.

The political conflict between Fubara and Wike has been exacerbated by claims that, despite holding the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Wike has remained influential and in control of affairs in Rivers state.

The suspension of the multi-billion naira project and the political manoeuvring suggest an imminent confrontation between the two political heavyweights, potentially reshaping the dynamics of power and governance in Rivers state.

Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on Monday, condoled with the families of the 100 passengers who were feared dead in Saturday’s boat accident in River Benue.

The governor, in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication,  Emmanuel Bello, called for a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the boat accident.

“This is a sad moment for Taraba State. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. I am grieved by this development and have since ordered a thorough investigation into the incident,” the governor said.

The acting Chairman of the Inland Water Transporters in Taraba State, Mr Jidda Mayoreneyo, had on Sunday said the boat carrying nearly 100 passengers capsized en route to Karim Lamido from Mayo-Reneyo.

The police said on Sunday that the corpses of three children were recovered and that a search-and-rescue operation was ongoing.

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The Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba State,  Usman Abdullahi, said the victims were heading back to Karim Lamido Local Government from Mayo-Renowo fish market on Saturday when the boat capsized in River Benue.

“No one in the boat survived the incident according to a preliminary report. So far, three bodies have been recovered from the incident,” Abdullahi said.

The Caretaker Chairman of Ardo-Kola LGA, Alhaji Dalhatu Kawu, said the boat left Mayoreneyo local jetty on Saturday with many passengers travelling to Binnari town in the Karim Lamido LGA but capsized mid-way in River Benue.

It was gathered that neither the passengers nor the operator of the ill-fated boat wore lifejackets

The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says 50 decomposing corpses, including 20 headless ones, as well as countless skeletons were discovered by security operatives during a raid of the forest around the Lokpanta Cattle Market in the Umunneochi axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

According to the governor, it was also discovered that the cattle market was being used by kidnappers as ransom-collection point.

Otti made the revelation on Sunday during the second edition of his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital.

He vowed that no inch of the state land mass would be left to criminals in line with his administration’s commitment to protect the lives and property of residents and visitors to the state.

He insisted that the resolve of the state to make the cattle market a daily market was not targeted at any particular tribe in the country, rather it was aimed at revamping the security architecture of the market and its host community.

He said, “We have taken a stand to provide adequate security to Abia citizens and visitors because we know that no government can succeed in the face of insecurity. This government will not get involved in supporting criminals or allow them to occupy any part of the state.

“When we decided to occupy the Lokpanta Cattle Market in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state, we discovered 50 dead bodies, 20 headless dead bodies, men, women and children and uncountable skeletons. We also discovered that ransoms paid to kidnappers were usually dropped close to the market.

“But it was unfortunate that some people misinterpreted our action to mean that we asked the northerners trading in the market to leave the state. After our interactions with leaders of the northern community, we told them that anyone who was not in support of the moves we were making to secure the state must be a criminal. They saw reasons with us and quickly reversed the quit notice they issued to Igbo in the North.

“That’s why we have decided to make the market a daily market, people can go to the market and do their business and go home at the end of the day. The market will not be only a cattle market again, but it will have other sections for other goods like every other market.

“Those who live inside the market will now live among other people in the state outside the market.”

Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, appealed to the northern leadership in the cattle market to “cooperate with Governor Otti to fish out the criminal elements that dent the image of the genuine traders amongst them.”

Speaking with one of our correspondents, Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, dismissed the report that Otti had displaced northerners from the Umunneochi Cattle Market.

“Ohanaeze recognises the age-long trading relationship between the North and the Igbo and urges all and sundry to take advantage of Governor Otti’s security initiatives for the interest of all,” he said.

The Former Majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie has emerged the new Speaker of the state Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi has been suspended.

Details soon.