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  • Vandals destroy 9 TCN towers in Abeokuta

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said nine towers located in the Obafemi  Owode area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, collapsed due to vandalism.

    Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the towers affected were towers 56 to 65 along the Papalanto/Abeokuta 132KV transmission line.

    She said that the towers were all massively vandalized, leading to their collapse.

    Mbah reported the General Manager of Lagos Region, Mr Mojeed Akintola, as saying the collapse was discovered after a tripping was recorded, and a team was dispatched to trace the fault.

    ”As a result, Abeokuta and its environs are presently out of power supply even as efforts are ongoing to supply bulk electricity through an alternate line.

    ”This is to enable Ibadan Distribution Company (DisCo) to distribute electricity to its customers whose supply was affected by the incident,” she said.

    According to her, the General Manager condemned the activities of the vandals, stating that their nefarious acts were negatively impacting the gird expansion efforts of the company.

    He also said resources that would have been used to further improve the grid infrastructure in Ogun State would now be used to replace the vandalised towers.

    ”TCN is again appealing to host communities to work with the company to protect the country’s common national assets,” he said.

  • 2 die in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway accident

    A driver and his motor boy on Tuesday died in an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has confirmed.

    According to the TRACE spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi, the accident involved a Howo truck marked EKY 65 XF and a J5 bus with no registration number.

    Akinbiyi said that the accident occurred early Tuesday morning around Saapade on the expressway.

    He noted that the driver of the bus probably dozed off, lost control of the wheels and rammed into a parked truck along the road.

    Akinbiyi blamed the crash on speeding and wrongful overtaking by the driver of the J5 bus.

    Out of the four persons involved in the accident, Akinbiyi said two died while others were rescued unhurt.

    Akinbiyi explained that eyewitnesses said the Howo truck loaded with Flour Mills products, developed a mechanical problem while on transit and had to be parked off the road for proper attention.

    “However, in the course of attending to the vehicle, the bus, which was also loaded with tomatoes, pepper, and the like, rammed into the truck from behind.

    ” The driver and the motor boy died due to the impact of the collision,” he said.

    The TRACE spokesman stated that the deceased were taken to FOS morgue, Ipara .

    While commiserating with the families of the deceased, Akinbiyi advised drivers to avoid speeding, take adequate rest before embarking on a journey and avoid driving in poor visibility. 

  • Assault: Why police released Seun Kuti on bail

    Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti has been released on Tuesday night on bail, from the detention of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos.

    The development was confirmed by his attorney, on Tuesday night.

    Nigerian Anchor gathered that his release was based on the fulfilling of his bail conditions which were perfected since last Thursday but the Police still kept the afrobeat singer until Tuesday.

    “Yes, Ṣeun Kuti has just was released minutes ago.

    “His bail conditions have been perfected since last Thursday, but the police asked for an extension of his remand until today (Tuesday),” his lawyer is quoted as saying.

    The Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, had extended Kuti’s remand until Tuesday, May 23 following an application by the police.

    Court records show that a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State last week Thursday granted an application by the police for an extension of remand of Seun Kuti until Tuesday (today), to enable the police to conclude its investigation, and for the advice of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution.

    The police had told the court that the two days remand extension that was earlier granted was not enough for it to conclude its investigation.

    Responding to the police’ application, the magistrate said, “I will grant the extension. Matter adjourned to May 23, 2023, for DPP’s advice,” the document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Monday revealed.

    Meanwhile, legal counsel to the musician, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, told The PUNCH that his client’s (Seun Kuti’s) bail conditions had been met last Thursday.

    However, our correspondent gathered that police lawyers went to court on Thursday to get a remand extension without notifying the musician’s legal counsel.

    “The police lawyers came to court on Thursday without informing Seun’s lawyers. When the matter was called for mention, a young lawyer who was in court, pleaded with the magistrate to stand down the matter for about five minutes for Seun Kuti’s legal counsel, Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who had rushed down from Ikeja, to arrive.

    “But the magistrate refused, and extended Seun’s detention till Monday,” a source privy to the development revealed to our correspondent on Thursday.

    Our correspondent gathered that the lead counsel to the police, Simon Lough, SAN, moved the application, noting that the extension was to allow further investigation into the case.

    Kuti is charged with assaulting a police officer during an altercation on Saturday, May 13, on the Third Mainland Bridge, in Lagos.

    The police charged him with slapping an inspector after he drove dangerously on the bridge, and deliberately blocked a moving police vehicle.

    Kuti was arraigned last Tuesday, during which the Chief Magistrate earlier ordered his remand for 48 hours, and held that the defendant be admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand.

    However, following a second arraignment last Thursday, the magistrate adjourned the case until May 23 for mention and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.

    Reacting to the development during an interview with our correspondent, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, noted that the musician’s bail conditions had been met, while insinuating that the court’s decision for the four days remand extension would, however, be respected.

    Olumide-Fusika said, “There’s no comment on the four-day extension. It’s a court decision, we’ll wait and see.

    “However, Ṣeun Kuti’s bail conditions have been met from our side. But since there’s a court decision extending for four days, the presiding magistrate did not sign off until after then.”

  • Rights group demands Abba Kyari’s release

    The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEHUR) has demanded for the release of embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abbah Kyari and his team from detention.

    This was even as the group questioned the alleged release of the two convicted drug traffickers 15 months after being convicted, instead of spending six years in jail.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, CEDEHUR’s spokesperson, Adebayo Sunday, stated that Kyari and his team were innocent.

    “The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights believes that, in the interest of justice, fairness and equity Abba Kyari and his team should be granted bail as enshrined in our constitution.

    “They have sacrificed so much for the security of this country and do not deserve this kind of dehumanising treatment being meted out to them,” he said.

    CEDEHUR also called on the presidency to urgently investigate the activities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and drug traffickers under Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd).

    “The President or the presidency should immediately set up a committee to investigate the activities of the NDLEA and drug traffickers under Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), especially in this case were clearly indicted NDLEA officers were shielded and many other NDLEA officers including one Sunday Zirandi Director of intelligence who was indicted by ex NDLEA officer for connivance with drug barons, diversions of recovered drugs, murder case among others.

    “We state that the ex-NDLEA officer has filed a case in court that is pending before the industrial court. The matter was in the media severally 2022 and if found guilty or wanted he should be appropriately sanctioned and all indicted officers should face the full wrath of the law.

    “It is legally and morally wrong to detain these IRT (Intelligence Response Team) officers for 15 months without bail while the International drug traffickers the Police IRT arrested and Voluntarily transferred to NDLEA are now free,” he said.

  • Tribunal: Tinubu’s legal team bars media interviews

    The Bola Ahmed Tinubu legal team in the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has barred media interviews throughout the defense of their client in the three petitions filed against his victory.

    The position of the team was relayed to the court by Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) during Tuesday’s proceeding.

    Akintola said that it was the decision of the team that any lawyer that flouts the ban, no matter his rank or how highly placed, would be kicked out of the defense team.

    He, however, did not disclose any reason why the ban was adopted.

    He said that the same ban has been extended to their client and President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The senior lawyer said that the ban on media interview by the legal team would be strictly observed and enforced.

    The panel led by Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, however did not react to the decision when it was presented in open court.

  • Updated: Gov Inuwa emerges Northern Governors’ Forum Chairman

    *Pledges better future for the North

    Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has been elected Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF).

    The Governor was unanimously elected by the 19 Northern governors during the Forum’s meeting held Tuesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.

    Governor Inuwa takes over from Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State with effect from 29th May, 2023.

    In his acceptance speech, Governor Inuwa promised to justify the confidence reposed in him by his colleagues across party devides.

    He emphasized that the good legacies of the Forum will be sustained to bequeath not only verile organisation, but a better future for the people of the north at the end of his tenure as chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.

    Inuwa assured his fellow northern Governors that in line with the objectives of the Northern Governor’ Forum, he will strive to sustain the strides left behind by his predecessors. He said the focus of the NSGF on economic development will be the driving force of the Forum while his chairmanship lasts.

    He observed that the region is challenged by insurgency in the North East, ethnic and religious crisis within the North Central as well as farmers/herders clashes and the subsequent effect of banditry and cattle rustling among others.

    The new NSGF chairman noted that inspite of the social and economic challenges confronting the northern region, the Forum has made tremendous impact and has changed the tide for the betterment of its people.

    He remarked that since the focus of the NSGF is built on addressing such social challenges, the Forum, under his leadership will do everything possible to ensure that they are addressed in the Interest and benefits of the people.

    “We will work hard to ensure that we catch up with the rest of the country, possibly with the developed parts of the world so that our people will feel the impact of good governance we all pursue”.

    He expressed delight with the commencement of drilling activities in the Lake Chad Basin which has brought to three drilling sites in the North to include Kolmani in Gombe and Bauchi and the one in Nasarawa State. He assured that the Forum will see to the actualization of the exploration of the large oil and gas deposits in the North for the benefit of the people.

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted that the Northern region of the country is sitting on not only oil and gas deposits. but solid minerals which the Forum has no reason not to exploit and put to use for the benefit of the people.

    The Gombe State Governor used the occasion to thank the outgoing chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Plateau State Governor Right Hon. Simon Bako Lalong for his administrative ingenuity despite numerous challenges in his State in particular and the North in general.

    He said the NEGF will continue to work with past leadership of Forum in order to consolidate on the gains so far recorded and to properly place it on the smooth trajectory of social cohesion, economic emancipation and infrastructural development.

    The outgoing Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, said Governor Inuwa was elected to Chair the NSGF in view of his experience, sterling leadership qualities and commitment to good governance. He urged him to bring to bear his pedigree of excellence in running the affairs of the Northern Governors Forum.

    Giving synopsis of his stewardship, the Plateau Governor said the past four years have been eventful just as they were challenging in various sectors.

    He said the forum had to deal with many issues that affected the northern states individually and the region as a whole.

    “As you are all aware, our region for the most part of the period under review continued to face serious challenges with the incidences of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes that impacted negatively on the lives of the people and the economy of the entire region. However, with our collective and individual efforts coupled with the support of the Federal Government and security agencies, we were able to do our best to contain the situation.

    “Without the series of meetings and engagements we held, our people would have been thrown into deeper hunger and despair as the threat by criminals restrained them from engaging in farming which is the main economic activity of the region. Although we have not overcome this challenge completely, we have substantially improved the situation. We hope that the incoming Governors and those continuing their second terms will work together with the Federal Government to ensure the region is secure”.

    Ismaila Uba Misilli
    Director- General
    ( Press Affairs)
    Government House
    Gombe

  • 7 killed, 23 injured in Thailand school roof collapse

    Thai Government on Tuesday said seven people were killed and 23 others injured after a school sports arena collapsed in northern Thailand.

    According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the accident occurred at around 7pm local time on Monday when the roof of a primary school sports arena in Phichit province collapsed in a heavy rainstorm.

    Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed condolences to the affected families and instructed relevant agencies to prioritize search efforts for the missing.

    Anucha Burapachaisri, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister and government spokesman, said efforts were being made to assess the extent of the damage and provide prompt assistance to victims.

    The injured individuals were transferred to two local hospitals, the DDPM said on its Facebook page.

    Local media reports indicated that a whirlwind struck the metal roof of the building, resulting in the collapse of the entire structure and trapping students, parents, and school staff under debris.

    Phichit Governor Payon Asavapichayon visited the affected site on Tuesday, where at least 100 local households reported damages due to the storm and further assessments were underway.

    The school and other affected areas have been declared as public disaster zones.

    As the rainy season begins, the Thai Meteorological Department has forecasted heavy and continuous rainfall in most areas of the country.

  • Akwa Ibom govt distributes 600,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has begun the distribution of 600,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers in the state, preparatory to this year’s planting season.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor, performed the distribution of the seedlings to farmers in Ini Local Government Area on Tuesday.

    Offor said that Ini was the cocoa belt of the state, abundantly blessed by God with natural resources and land to grow many crops, as the food basket of the state.

    She expressed appreciation to the governor for all his support to farmers over time, as demonstrated in the distribution of different inputs to enhance food production.

    “We have carried out the distribution of inputs since the beginning of the planting season for different crops such as cassava, maize, vegetables, oil palm and today is for cocoa.

    “Other crops will also be shared in the near future.

    “This is done to show that food is the most important need of man, it is of essence to support farmers to produce food to raise the food sufficiency level in the state,” Offor said.

    The commissioner said that the essence of distributing the seedlings was to increase cocoa production, to ensure that the state is  ranked as one of the top producers of cocoa in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the State Chairman, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Mr Ekikere Bassey, assured the government of their readiness to properly harness the cocoa seedlings distributed to the group.

    He said that the association would ensure that the seedlings got to all farmers in the state.

    Bassey commended the state government for the gesture, adding that the state governor had being a model to the farmers in planting and cultivation of cash crops.

    He said the association in the state had facilitated the increase in the price of cocoa from N1, 000 per kilo to N1, 700 to the benefit of the farmers.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of Ini local government, Mr Israel Idaisin, commended the efforts of the state government for supporting cocoa farmers with seedlings.

    He was represented by his vice, Mr Marcus Udo.

  • Court dissolves businesswoman’s 19-year ‘loveless marriage’

    Court dissolves businesswoman’s 19-year ‘loveless marriage’

    An Upper Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja, has dissolved a 19-year-old marriage between a businesswoman, Fawzah Alimi and her husband, Jibril Aladejana.

    The Judge, Garba Gambo dissolved the marriage according to Islamic Law, following Alimi’s prayer for divorce on grounds of lack of love.

    Gambo said that Aladejana refused to appear in court for once and did not send a message or representative to the court.

    He held that the attitude of the respondent clearly showed he had no respect for the court nor love for the petitioner but wanted to torment and oppress her.

    The judge however ordered the petitioner to pay the dowry of N20,000 to the registry of the court which would be kept for the respondent to collect and dissolved the marriage under “Khuli” in Islamic law.

    Khuli is a procedure through which a woman can divorce herself from her husband in Islam, by returning the dowry and everything she received from him during their life together, or without returning anything, as agreed by the spouse or judge.

    Gambo said that filing a case of custody of children or maintenance while in marriage is premature and ordered the petitioner to file the same afresh.

    Earlier, the petitioner had told the court she got married to the respondent under Islamic law in 2004 and is blessed with six children ages 19, 18, 14,12,9, and 4.

    She said that since she got married, the respondent had been living in Ekiti state while she stayed in Abuja where he visited from time to time.

    Alimi further said she was tired of the marriage and all efforts made to make it work proved abortive.

    She however begged the court to dissolve the marriage on grounds of lack of love under Khuli, in order to protect her faith.

    The petitioner also sought the court to mandate the respondent to take responsibility for providing shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities for their children.

  • Tribunal orders Obi, Atiku to present joint petitions in 3 weeks

    Tribunal orders Obi, Atiku to present joint petitions in 3 weeks

    The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has ordered the Presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Gregory Obi and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, to present a joint petition against Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s February 25 presidential election victory, within three weeks.

    On Obi and LP petitions, the court ordered the Respondents, Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to defend the petition against them within five days. 

    On the part of Respondents in Atiku’s petition, the 1st Respondent (INEC) has two days to present its defense, 2nd Respondent (Tinubu) has five days, while 3rd Respondent (APC) also has five days to present its defence.

    The five-man panel of the court led by its Chairman, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani issued the order on Tuesday, adding that it arrived at the decision because of the limited time within which the petition must be disposed of.

    Further breakdown ordered that the Petitioners to present their matter from 30the May to June 23rd. INEC has two days, from 21st June to June 28 to present their defense, Tinubu has five days, from June 29 to July 6, while APC has five days, from July seven to July 16.

    Concluding, the court held that all pieces of evidence will be closed by July 16.

    Shortly after the order of the Court was handed down, Obi who was in court to witness the proceedings took permission from the court and left on the ground that they were going to prepare for the full-blown hearing of the petition.

    Meanwhile, the Court discountenanced Tinubu and APC’s objection for the consolidation of the applications.

    Consequently, the Court ordered the consolidation of the petitions so as to ensure an expeditious hearing.