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Post Date : March 16, 2021

ABDUCTIONS: FG issues stern warning to parents, says it can’t secure all schools

The Federal Government has emphasised the need for Nigerians to be vigilant to end attacks on schools and abduction of students . The Minister of State for Education , Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday , indicated that government could not secure every school in the country. According to him , government has directed schools to report any security threat to the nearest security agency . In the interview, the minister was asked what government was doing to protect schools from incessant attacks by bandits. He responded , “ Eternal vigilance is the price for security. Every nation is always concerned about the consciousness of its people . The Federal Government cannot secure every house. Everybody needs to be vigilant . We have passed this message to all our schools so that anywhere they are, if there is any threat , they know the nearest security agency to contact . ” Nwajiuba also claimed that almost all schools in the country were fenced. “ Almost all the schools in Nigeria , whether private or owned by the Federal Government , are mostly all fenced , except may be some state schools. “ As you may also be aware , even if you put up a fence, these people ( bandits ) have been known to come through gates . “ So , perimeter fencing, by themselves, are not too effective . The security consciousness is the thing . If you hear where some of them are being held, you will know that it is a question of self -consciousness and communities informing officials on time . ”

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

Imo deputy speaker allegedly brutalizes comedian over Facebook post

A popular comedian in Imo State, Franklin Ozuruigbo, has alleged that he was brutalised by the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, over a Facebook post, which the deputy speaker considered critical. Ozuruigbo, who is the deputy speaker’s kinsman, told newsmen in Owerri that the Chief of Staff to the deputy speaker, Paul Duru, lured him to Iwuanyanwu’s lodge in Owerri on Friday where he was severely dealt with by the deputy speaker. According to him, he was deceived to wait for the deputy speaker who arrived at midnight and ordered his men to beat him up for criticising him on social media. The comedian who hails from Dim Na Nume Isu, the same community with the deputy speaker, alleged that he was whisked to the state police command headquarters in Owerri after the beating with an order that he should be detained. He said that it took the timely intervention of the member representing Nwangele/Nkwerre/Njaba/Isu Federal Constituency of the state, Ugonna Ozurigbo, who arrived at the command headquarters with his aides the same night before he was released. The comedian said, “The deputy speaker told me before taking me to the police headquarters that no human being from Nwangele can secure my release. ‘I will make sure you rot in police custody. You can’t be insulting me on Facebook and get away with it. I will tell you that we own this state and country’.” Ozurigbo said, “I want the world to hold the deputy speaker responsible should anything happen to me or any member of my family. I also fear that I was poisoned at his lodge because I took the drinks they gave to me before his arrival because I never suspected any foul play. I have been having stomach upset since I took that drink.” But when contacted, the chief of staff to the deputy speaker, Paul Duru, said that Ozurigbo was not brutalized by his principal. He said that the comedian was arrested following a petition his principal wrote to the state commissioner of police on character defamation. Duru said that the comedian had been defaming Iwuanyanwu all in a bid to “extort more money from him after he had given him N300,000 five months ago.” He said that the deputy speaker has no problem with the comedian but was only concerned with his attempts to defame his character. Source DAILY TRUST

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

“Uzodimma is dubious, unrepentant being for saying we hijacked ESN from Southeast govs – IPOB blasts Imo gov

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has rebuked Imo gov, Senator Hope Uzodimma for saying it hijacked ESN from Southeast govs. Recall that Uzodimma had last week claimed that the secessionist group hijacked eastern security network from Southeast govs. The IPOB Spokesman, Emma Powerful in a press statement sad that, Hope Uzodinma, should hid his face in shame for claiming IPOB hijacked Eastern Security Network, ESN, from South East Governors. Emma Powerful said this blatant lie has only confirmed the dubious character of Uzodinma as an unrepentant human being, “we don’t need to be labour ourselves in convincing the public over who set up ESN because it is a public knowledge. For five months, our Leader was begging South East and South South Governors to float a regional security outfit to protect and defend our people against genocidal attacks by terrorists masquerading as Fulani herdsmen”. “Our Leader even wrote a letter to the governors which was made public but they turned deaf ear to all the pleas including the clamour by the people for a regional security outfit”. “Every honest person in the zoo will attest to the fact that ESN was floated by IPOB in response to the yearnings of our people for self defense against terrorists. It was a child of necessity borne as a result of the failure of the governors to rise to their responsibility of protecting lives and property of the people. Their inability to stand with the people was because of their usual tendency to please their caliphate slave masters even to the detriment of their people”. “Let somebody please remind Hope Uzodinma to stop disgracing himself further by claiming what does not exist. Anyway, we can understand his frustration. He had attempted but in vain, to infiltrate and possibly hijack ESN but was disappointed, hence his resort to cheap blackmail. But this too will not fly! “We wish to remind Hope Uzodinma that IPOB does not need him nor his fellow traitor governors to sustain ESN. IPOB with presence in over 120 countries is resolutely committed to sustain and finance ESN to actualize its mandate. We don’t need traitors and saboteurs in a crucial matter like the security of our people”. “Now we know the sponsor of the Owerri hotelier who vigorously campaigned for Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB to handover ESN to South East Governors. The other time it was Emeka Emekasiri who was disgracing himself with the claims that they formed IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hijacked it from them”. “Treacherous Ralph Uwazuruike, has also repeatedly claimed that Radio Biafra was formed by him but later hijacked by Nnamdi Kanu. These are bunch of envious traitors who have no limit to their lies in their desperation to blackmail our Leader but the Biafra agitation has gone beyond their distractions”. IPOB Spokesman disclosed that Hope Uzodinma is only bitter knowing what awaits him. He knows that his days of reckoning are fast approaching. For colluding with the Nigeria military in uniform to abduct IPOB members, “Uzodinma knows he cannot escape justice. He should stop laying false claims to the formation of ESN because that too cannot save him”. Emma Powerful stated.

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

Uzodimma’s Anniversary: Kogi gov’s rider dies in accident while returning from Owerri

A Presidential rider, named Aminu on assignment with Kogi State Governor,Alhaji Yahaya Bello lost his life in a ghastly accident along Ajaokuta-Lokoja road on their way from Imo state after gov Uzodumma one year in office anniversary celebration on Sunday. A source within the convoy who confirmed the development to the OBSERVERS TIMES said the rider slept off due to night journey. The Presidential rider died in the early hours of this morning at 3am, after been rushed to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital,Lokoja on his way from Imo state on a bike. Kogi Governor was in Imo state via Enugu to attend the one year anniversary of Governor of Imo state,Hope Uzodinma and his campaign to become Nigerian President in 2023. Late Presidential rider,Aminu has been on dual salary from the Presidency and Kogi state for carrying out illegal assignments of ridden on Kogi Governor’s convoy round the country. Kogi Governor who made a night trip from owerri had penchant for using auto bike riders all over the country,unlike his other colleagues in other states. The Presidential rider travelled without official clearance and permission from State House transport officer with the Kogi state Governor to the South East. As at press time,there was no official reaction from the Presidency as no pronouncements was made by the officers concerned. Kogi Governor is known for flouting Presidential directives from all angles and had been at logger head with NCDC and PTF over COVID-19 pandemic,a world ravaged ailement that Governor Bello had denied it’s existence in Kogi State. Though the Govenor Chief Press Secretary Onogw Galaticus denied the incident but the OBSERVERS TIMES can authoritatively confirmed the death of the president rider and his dead body in an ambulance to Abuja at Press times. Editor’s Note: This photo is for illustrative purpose

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

Herdsmen kidnap 5 in Anambra

Suspected herdsmen , on Monday , reportedly kidnapped five persons in the Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State . One of the victims, Francis Onwuachu, is the President -General of Omor community. The state Police Public Relations Officer , Mohammed Haruna , confirmed the incident. He said he was not aware of the number of victims as of press time, adding that the report he got was that the president -general of the community was kidnapped. Haruna said the command had commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. He said until investigation was concluded to ascertain what led to the incident and those behind it, he would not be able to say if the abductors were locals or Fulani herdsmen . A former Chairman of the local government area , Udoji Amedu, said Onwuachu’ s car had been recovered by the police. He stated , “ Apart from the PG , we heard that four other persons were kidnapped by the herdsmen . “ The abductors have established contact with us and they are demanding N 10m as ransom to release only the PG . Nothing has been heard about the other victims for now . ” Amedu lamented that his cousin was killed last month by herdsmen . He said many people had been killed and scores of women raped in the past few months by suspected herdsmen in the area.

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

Despite video evidence, deputy speaker denies blocking petition from Nigerians in diaspora

Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, has denied ruling that Nigerians living in the diaspora cannot submit a petition on issues affecting them back home. In a statement on Monday, Wase said he is not in doubt of their eligibility to file petitions and is only concerned about the legal identity of the group in question. TheCable had reported how Wase rejected a petition from the ‘Mutual Union of the Tiv in America’ when he presided over the plenary session last Thursday. The petition which was presented by Mark Terseer Gbillah from Benue, accused the federal government of not resettling the Tiv people displaced through various as a result of the farmers-herders crises. Before ruling against it, Wase had asked if the group was registered with the Corporate Affairs of Commission (CAC), stating: “I am not convinced that somebody from America can come here and then delaying issues in Nigeria.” The video of the exchange during the plenary session: His comments had generated widespread criticisms with many accusing him of turning a blind eye on the plight of the displaced persons. ‘MY ARGUMENT WAS ABOUT LEGALITY OF PETITIONERS’ Reacting via a statement signed by Umar Puma, his chief press secretary, the deputy speaker said his contention was on the “legality of the petitioners and not on whether Nigerians in the diaspora have a right to petition the house or not”. “To set the records straight, let it be categorically stated that the crux of the encounter between the Deputy Speaker, presiding as Speaker, and Honorable Mark Gbillah was on the LEGAL IDENTITY (and flowing from that, the LOCUS) of the Petitioners and not on the whether Nigerians in the diaspora have a right to petition the House or not,” the statement read. “The House of Representatives belongs to all Nigerians and can be accessed by all Nigerians wherever they may reside. However, like other arms of Government, (such as Courts of Law), Petitioners must follow laid down rules and procedures in presenting their petitions to the House, otherwise, there would be lawlessness, disorder and chaos. “Note that as a Rule, every Petition must be presented by a Sponsor on behalf of an identifiable Petitioner who can either be an individual/groups of individuals or registered corporate entity. “In the current incident, the Sponsor of the Petition read the Petitioners as: ASSOCIATION OF TIVS RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES. For any experienced Parliamentarian, this very coinage raises a lot of technical questions. “Are the Petitioners represented here in Nigeria via a Nigerian Office or a Legal Practitioner or are they totally absent from the scene? Are they registered as an Association with the Corporate Affairs Commission? If they are absent and a hearing were to be organized, who would the members of the Committee on Public Petition be addressing, questioning or interrogating? Would the Petitioners be able to give first-hand witness testimony as to the issues raised in their petition? These and other technical complications were what the Deputy Speaker tried to interrogate, to which sufficient answers were not provided thus stalling the presentation of the Petition.” Wase added that while the house has in the past entertained petitions, those submitted were “properly presented before the House without any ambiguity as to the identity of the Petitioners or as to their locus and availability to speak to the issues raised in such Petitions.” “The Deputy Speaker reiterates the commitment of the 9th House of Representatives to continue to promote freedom of speech and associations as well as provide platforms for all Nigerians irrespective of their religions or tribes or whether resident in Nigeria or in the diaspora; while also upholding the sacred principles, rules and procedures of parliamentary,” the statement added.

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

Nigeria records 238 new COVID-19 infections, total now 160,895

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 238 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 160,895. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Monday. “On the 15th of March 2021, 238 new confirmed cases and 3 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “Till date, 160895 cases have been confirmed, 145752 cases have been discharged and 2016 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 238 new cases are reported from 17 states- Lagos (72), Kwara (28), Bauchi (19), Kaduna (19), Edo (17), Ogun (15), Nasarawa (13), Rivers (10), FCT (9), Ondo (8), Akwa Ibom (5), Gombe (5), Niger (5), Osun (5), Plateau (4), Oyo (3), and Kano (1),” the NCDC said.

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Post Date : March 16, 2021

Atiku media aide dies two months after wife’s death

A media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Louis Okoroma, is dead. Mr Okoroma died on Thursday, two months after the death of his wife. Head of Atiku Media Office, Paul Ibe, said in a statement on Monday that the deceased was at work on Wednesday and “bid us farewell when he left for the day, but little did we know that was going to be our last encounter with him.” Mr Ibe described Mr Okoroma as a jovial person and a top-notch professional journalist who performed his job with passion and dedication. He added that Mr Abubakar and the entire staff of the organisation “extend our deepest condolences to his family, including his children.” Below is the statement Atiku Media Office Loses Staff The Atiku Media Office has announced the passing of one of its staff and a veteran journalist and political analyst, Mr. Louis Okoroma. A statement issued by the Head of the Media Office, Mr. Paul Ibe, who announced the sad news, said Okoroma died two months after the death of his own wife. “The death of Mr. Okoroma comes to us as a great shock and his passing will be felt for months and years to come because of his incalculable contributions to our office. “Okoroma was not only a jovial fellow, but he was also a top-notch professional journalist that performed his job with passion and dedication”, Mr. Ibe added. “The late Okoroma was always beaming with smiles; he came to work on Wednesday and bid us farewell when he left for the day, but little did we know that was going to be our last encounter with him. The office is devastated by his sudden death and his immense contributions cannot be forgotten for years to come”, Ibe added sorrowfully. “On behalf of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the entire staff of the Media Office, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, including his children. May God bring them comfort at this particularly challenging moment”, Ibe said. A delegation of the Atiku Media Office, led by Ibe, on Monday paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Okoroma. Signed: Paul Ibe Atiku Media Office

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Post Date : March 15, 2021

EXPOSED: How Shehu Sani Hurriedly Returned $25,000 to Dauda, ASD motors

The trial of Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, continued today March 15, 2021 before Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja with the tenth prosecution witness, (PW10) Bako Aliyu providing more details on how Sani allegedly extorted Alhaji Sani Dauda, the Chairman, ASD Motors. Today’s trial was initially slated to review the audio evidence which captured Senator Sani’s voice, allegedly extorting $25,000USD (Twenty-five Thousand United Stated Dollars) from Dauda. However, due to a systems glitch, the interpreted English version of the conversation could not be played, prompting the judge to ask PW10 Bako Aliyu, an investigator with the EFCC, to continue giving evidence on his involvement on the case. Aliyu, in his evidence, recalled his previous testimony of how the defendant took advantage of Alhaji Duada, following the issues he had with the Nigeria Police, to extort him of $25,000USD, claiming he was going to offer the money as bribe to the Chief Justice of the Federation, then EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu and some operatives of the Commission. He said the Chief Justice and the former EFCC Chairman denied receiving any bribe from Sani, with the Chief Justice publishing his denial in two National dailies. “There was evidence of a request of money from the defendant, asking the complainant for money to bribe the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Magu and some EFCC staff,“ he said. Upon learning that the matter was before the Commission, the witness said the defendant hurriedly returned the money to the complainant, begging him to change the statement he had volunteered to the EFCC. Aliyu also faulted Sani’s claim that the $25,000USD he gave ASD was part payment for the purchase of a brand new Peugeot 508 saloon car. “My lord, our investigation shows ASD does not transact any business in Dollars. Moreover, the managing director of ASD motors is the one responsible for sales of vehicles, not the Chairman, “he said. Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter to March 16, 2021 for continuation of trial and cross examination of PW10. Sani is facing prosecution by the EFCC on two count criminal charges, bordering on name-dropping, influence-peddling and obtaining the sum of $25,000 USD (Twenty-five Thousand United States Dollars) under false pretence. He allegedly obtained the said sum on the pretext that he would use it to bribe the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to shield the complainant from EFCC’s investigation and prosecution.

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Post Date : March 15, 2021

Wike accuses CBN of playing politics with Agric loans

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that politics has been used to deny the state access to agricultural loans offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria. He made the allegation when he hosted the Minister of State for Agriculture, and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, in Port Harcourt, on Monday. The governor decried the situation where every issue in the country including agriculture has been politicised instead of implementing such policies dispassionately to achieve the intended food security and jobs for the youths. “I think, I am one of those states that nobody gives loans for agriculture. I don’t know what hatred the Central Bank Governor has for us? We do not know. “We have been hearing of Anchor borrower this and Anchor that. But when it concerns Rivers State, you will hear a lot of things.” Wike explained that in an idle situation devoid of politics, the Central Bank of Nigeria will partner with the Rivers State government to achieve the objectives of setting up the State-owned cassava processing plant. “Please tell the Governor of Central Bank to remember us too, that we are part of Nigeria. When we applied, they said this loan was N5 billion. We have applied for more than one year now. They said we should bring this and bring that. “They said we should bring the co-operative societies and I say this where the politics come from. If I want to eat government money, I can sit here and write cooperative societies. “The previous administration took the loan and said they gave it to corporative societies of over N3billion. Who are these corporative societies? And the money went off like that. “And we are telling you to see the cassava processing plant that you are supposed to say we will buy into this, we will support the state government. Nothing has happened.” The Governor said even without the loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria, his administration is achieving a revolution in cassava processing that will create jobs for youths and enduring patronage for farmer folks. “It is not in dispute that to take the country out of where we are, agriculture is key. If we are sincere with the reality that agriculture will employ a lot of our youths; give them jobs and achieve food security, then we must do it in such a way that we really mean what we say.” The governor said the state government will invite the Minister of Agriculture to commission the cassava processing plant. According to him, many companies have keyed in already to buy off what will be processed. “We have over 3000 farmers who have registered. From them, the company will buy off all their produce. We are happy with this feat.” He expressed surprised over the road projects and provision of solar-powered electricity that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture claimed to have provided to rural communities in the state. He said it is important for the state government to know where those rural roads and solar power are located so that proper recording will be done and a letter of appreciation written to thank the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for the gesture. “I am also surprised when you said you’ve done rural roads in Rivers State. I don’t know the roads you did. It is important for us to know them so that we will put it on record, that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture did this road. “And we will be able to write to you and thank you for doing such road. If you put solar, let us also know. Except you gave it to your party people. There is no way you will do the road in my state without the state government being aware.” Governor Wike also wondered what had become of the spate of the abduction of children in succession and shortly afterwards, they are released. “I saw breaking news, another banditry in Kaduna and taking away students and teachers. The thing is becoming funny. Yesterday, you take 300, two days after, they release them. The next morning, you take another one, the next 24 hours, they’re released. “So, people know where they are. You take two hundred and something people in a 20 kilometres distance and nobody will know? And in the next 24 hours, they’ve been released. What’s really happening? “Can somebody tell us the truth of what’s going on? It is becoming funny. And why is it so? It is so because we politicise the issue of security.” Minister of State for Agriculture, and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, said he was in the state to inspect ongoing and completed projects that will boost rural agricultural activities under his ministry. He said the federal government is poised to support Rivers farmers with new technology that will address the problems of low yields, allow them to have access to improved varieties of cassava produce, chemical for treatment for the seeds and crops protection.

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