A Federal High Court sitting in has granted permission to former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention. Justice Inyang Ekwo who granted Okorocha’s request thereafter ordered the Registrar of the Court to release his traveling passport to him to undertake the medical trip. The order of the Judge followed an application that was moved by counsel to the former Governor, Mr Ola Olanipekun, SAN, who notified the court that his client has been having health challenges in the receipt times. He argued that Okorocha now a Senator representing Imo North in the Senate will not abuse the order and will return to the country for his trial. Although, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC represented by Mr Chile Okoroma had sought to vehemently oppose the request, the Commission soft-pedallef when Justice Ekwo explained that the request would be granted with a caveat by the court. While granting the request, Justice Ekwo ordered Okorocha to return the passport to the Court Registrar not later than three days of his arrival in the country. The Judge held that he would declare Okorocha wanted if he attempts to abuse the favour granted him. Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed November 7 for his trial in the money laundering criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government. Okorocha is standing trial before the court on 17-count money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). Also on trial on same charge are a chieftain of the All Progressive, APC, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five companies- Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited. EFCC alleged that Okorocha who piloted affairs of Imo state from 2011 to 2019, conspired and diverted public funds to the tune of about N2.9 billion. According to the anti-graft agency, the Defendants committed the alleged offence between October 2014 and February 2016. The federal lawmaker has however denied the allegations and is currently on bail.

  Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council of Imo, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, has conferred chieftaincy title of Dike Ogu 1 (War Lord) of Imo on Chief of Army Staff, COAS Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya Eze Okeke, conferred the title on the COAS when the latter paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Owerri on Tuesday. The visit was part of activities marking the commemoration of the year 2022 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL). Okeke, who thanked the COAS Yahaya for his efforts at restoring peace in Imo, pledged his readiness to partner with the Army and other security agencies in the state in the fight against criminality. “We take cognisance of the partnership of the Nigerian Army with the Imo Government and we pledge our readiness to assist in whatever way it is required of us to ensure lasting peace in Imo,” he said. Responding, Yahaya thanked the traditional ruler and his cabinet for the honour bestowed on him and said that he had come to pay homage to him in line with the dictates of tradition as Imo was hosting the NADCEL. He urged traditional rulers in the state to keep watchful eyes, partner security agencies and report obnoxious conducts capable of disrupting peace to relevant quarters.

  President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja Wednesday, July 6, to participate in the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal. The President is getting set for the trip amid the high wave of attacks in the last 24 hours. The team was heading for Daura, the president’s hometown when bandits ambushed them. In yet another Katsina attack, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was gunned down. Also, gunmen broke into Kuje Prison in the nation’s capital and set inmates, including high-profile Boko Haram suspects, free. Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, had said all Boko Haram suspects in custody escaped during the attack. In a statement on Wednesday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; as well as Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo. Others on the entourage are : the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director- General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan. He said IDA is an institution of the World Bank Group, deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle (IDA20) which goes into effect between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025. According to Shehu, at the High Level event slated for Thursday, July 7 and hosted by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration. The presidential spokesman said this commitment is expected to chart the way forward for the transformation of the economies of these nations in partnership with the World Bank/IDA. According to him, “Topics slated for discussion include: Financing for Recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa; Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security; Human Capital; Digital and Technological Innovation; and Energy Transition and Climate Change.” Earlier in the day, Buhari reshuffled his cabinet and swore in new ministers. Buhari made 10 foreign trips in the first half of 2022, raising concerns among Nigerians, even though his handlers insisted that the trips were in the interest of the country.

  Two female passengers died on Wednesday when a 20-seater boat which departed Ipakodo ferry terminal in Ikorodu capsized. The General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, who made this known in a statement, said the boat capsized almost immediately after take-off. He said 15 occupants of the capsized boat were rescued alive. The statement read, “At about 7.45am today (Wednesday), the 6th of July 2022, a 20 passenger ferry boat carrying 17 passengers named “R & N 2” suddenly capsized not more than 200 meters from the terminal and submerged immediately after it departed the Ipakodo ferry terminal in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The Water guards and the search and rescue team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) were mobilized to the scene of the incident, leading to the rescue of 15 persons alive. “While two female unconscious passengers were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment. They were, however, later confirmed dead at the hospital. “The Boat Captain is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities while full investigation into the cause of this mishap is ongoing as of the time of this press release.”

  Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the National Identification Management Commission, NIMC, to immediately release the bio-data of David Ukpo to the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court. The court issued the order following a request to that effect by the Commission and in response to the request of the detained former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu to defend himself in a London court. Although the court had on July 1 issued an order that the four respondents sued by Ekweremadu release details of David Ukpo to him and his detained wife, Beatrice, NIMC did not obey the order. At Wednesday’s proceedings, NIMC, represented by Mr Muazu Mohammed, informed Justice Ekwo that his client could not obey the order of the Court because it was not served with a hearing notice before the order was issued against it. Mohammed who earlier asked for revocation of the order later amended his motion on notice. In place of revocation of the order, the counsel requested that his client be directed to submit information on David Ukpo to the AGF instead of Ekweremadu for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court detaining the Nigerian Senator. The request was not opposed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN who stood for Ekweremadu. Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the request and ordered NIMC to submit the Bionica to the AGF for onward transmission to London Court.

  President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet, seven months before the 2023 presidential election in the country. The President also administered an oath of office to seven newly appointed ministers recently confirmed by the Senate. The new ministers took the oath of office shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Council Chamber. He urged the new ministerial appointees to consider their emergence as a call to duty which demands diligent service to the nation. Those sworn in are Henry Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa-Ibom), Udi Odum (Rivers), Ademola Adegoroye (Ondo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano), Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo) and Ekumankama Nkama (Ebonyi). The new ministers replace those who resigned their appointments to contest for various elective offices during the 2023 general elections in April. Before the council meeting, a minute of silence was observed in honour of the outgoing Secretary-General of OPEC Mohammed Barkindo who died on Tuesday evening, hours after meeting with Buhari. Meanwhile, physically in attendance is the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari. Also physically attending the meeting are Ministers of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. The Head service of the Federation Folashade Yemi Esan and other Ministers are attending virtually from their various offices in Abuja In the reshuffling, Umana Umana takes over from Godswill Akpabio as the Minister of Niger Delta, Sen. Adeleke Mamora takes over from Ogbonnaya Onu as the new minister of Science and Technology while Goodluck Nana Opiah takes over from Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba as the Minister of State, Education. The former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi will be replaced by Mu’azu Jaji Sambo. Below is the complete list of the new ministers and their portfolio.

  A fire outbreak from Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol has claimed the lives of a medical couple, Dr Auta Gidado and Dr Amina Ahmad. Until their demise, they both worked with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in Borno State, Daily Trust learnt. It was gathered that the incident occurred Sunday morning in an apartment where they resided on Lagos Street, Maiduguri. According to the family, the husband was caught in the fire while he was trying to rescue his wife. They were both rushed to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of UMTH where Gidado died on Tuesday. A source noted that Gidado had been buried according to the Islamic rite. “They were both involved in a fire incident three days ago. May Allah join these two beautiful souls in Jannatul Firdaus,” the source said, adding that Gidado’s wife died Wednesday morning. “We lost her this morning. It was painful they died suddenly from a mysterious fire outbreak,” the source added. While confirming the incident, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ADR), Dr Abdullahi Usman, regretted the sudden death of the couple. “Yes we lost both of them from a fire outbreak, as we speak nobody can tell you the details but what we were told is that the fire emanated from petrol. “I wish people would respect the dead. This is a sober moment for us as colleagues,” Abdullah said. A message sighted by our correspondent reads, “The leadership of ARD UMTH ably led by President Abdullahi Usman regrets to announce the death of dear colleague, Dr Amina Ahmad (House Officer); wife of Late Auta Gidado. “May the Almighty Allah forgive her and grant her Aljannatul Firdaus. May He repose her soul and that of her late husband.”