A seven-storey building under construction caved in yesterday, at First Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. Seven persons, all construction workers, were rescued while an undisclosed number of persons were still trapped at about 8.30pm. But emergency responders at the scene said only one person was still under the debris. Vanguard gathered that the Lagos State Fire Service was the first responder at the building collapse scene. Its officials made efforts to damp the dust in order to enhance visibility. They were later joined by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, led by the South West Coordinator, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, the Police, among others. The cause of the collapse was yet to be ascertained, but the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, said the building was unapproved. According to him, “an unapproved seven-storey building under construction collapsed in Banana Island, Lagos State, this evening (yesterday). There was no fatality. Few victims who sustained injuries are being treated. This unfortunate incident happened while casting was being done. “The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, immediately visited the site to assess the situation and flag off investigation. We ask members of the public to remain calm and expect further information from the ministry as we know more”, he stated. The collapsed building, as gathered, is one of the three highrise structures under construction.

  Chimamanda Adichie, a Nigerian novelist, says many Nigerians feel cheated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the 2023 presidential election. Speaking on Tuesday on Arise Television, Adichie said as far as Nigerians are concerned, INEC lost its credibility for failing to upload results immediately as promised. “I had been assured that technology would save us and we should also talk about how difficult it was to collect PVCs and how that in itself is a form of voter disenfranchisement,” she said. “We can’t see them (results) in real time. We cannot see them as Prof. Yakubu Mahmood said. He said I’m going to put it there. I read several times that the public will be able to view that polling unit results as soon as elections are finalised on election day. “The Electoral Act says that INEC was given the legal backing to have electronic transmission of results and did say in a format that INEC decides. We know that format, because the chair of INEC told us what the format would be when he said that the results will be uploaded at the end of voting from the polling units. And that was not done.” In response to comments that she supported Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), because they are from the same tribe, Adichie said “tribesman is such an outdated and strange expression”, which says something about whoever is using it. “I think that that kind of accusation is a practice of what psychologists call projecting. So you’re doing something but then you accuse someone else of doing it, even though they’re not”. Adichie said President Muhammadu Buhari and Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, blew their chances of becoming the new heroes of Nigeria’s democracy. “Many Nigerians feel deeply cheated by INEC, deeply disenfranchised by INEC, and that is authoritarianism which obviously is the basis of fascism at the centre of manipulating an election because what you’re doing is that you’re gagging people, you’re forcibly taking away their voice,” she said. “I think that Prof Yakubu had an opportunity for heroism. I think he wasted it spectacularly. Because he could very easily have become the hero of not just Nigerians but Africa because so many Africans were watching and they were so inspired by what happened before this election and by the ‘obidient’ movement. “I also think that President Buhari missed an opportunity for heroism, maybe his last chance at heroism, because Nigerians felt before the elections that he meant well and meant to support credible elections. I don’t think many Nigerians think that now.” She added that she hopes parties in court will get justice, noting that there were reasons to doubt it. “I hope they will. I think there’s reason to doubt that because the supreme court has had rulings that just did not make a lot of sense to most people,” Adichie said. “And so there’s reason to worry, but I’m hopeful. I’m generally hopeful. I’m optimistic that they will do the right thing and that people will get justice.

  Two persons said to be members of the Awo Hall Executives have been arrested by the police, following the death of a 500 Level student of the Civil Engineering Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ahize Okoli. Okoli was reportedly beaten to death by a mob on suspicion that he stole a mobile phone. Sources on the campus said the student was accused of stealing a mobile phone in Awo Hall on Monday and after he had been severely beaten, he was moved to the Students Union Building in the early hours of Tuesday where he remained till around noon. It was further learnt that because of the beating he received, Okoli’s health deteriorated and he was rushed to the OAU Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, where he was confirmed dead Tuesday afternoon. The Osun State Police Command, while giving an update on the incident on Wednesday, described the two people detained as student leaders. The command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who spoke to journalists, said, “Investigation into the incident will continue and justice would be served. We have arrested two student leaders in connection with the incident.” Also speaking, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the police should be allowed to investigate the matter, adding that the management of the institution would also carry out its investigation. Olanrewaju said, “The university will not meddle in such a grievous offence. It bothers on the criminality of murder. “So, let the police do their job and we will do our own here. We are going ahead with our investigation.” Meanwhile, students in the Faculty of Technology, on Wednesday, blocked roads leading to the school campus in protest against Okoli’s death. The protesters, who also demanded the arrest of all those involved in the assault on the deceased student, specifically called for the arrest of student security volunteers, who allegedly took custody of the deceased after he had been assaulted in Awo Hall of Residence. The protesting students, who also ensured that lecture did not hold on campus, as a sign of respect for the deceased student, later removed the barricade and allowed movement into the campus, after the Dean, the Division of Students Affairs, Prof. Olalekan Aransi, had listened to their demands. Aransi, while addressing the students, pleaded with them to let peace reign, assuring them that the management would address their concerns.

  The national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, has emerged the governorship candidate of the party in Imo State. Anyanwu emerged the candidate of the party in a primary election conducted at the state secretariat of the party in Owerri, the state capital, on Wednesday. Anyanwu polled a total of 802 votes out of the 915 delegates to emerge the candidate of the party for the November 11 governorship election in the state. The chairman of the election panel, Kenneth Okon, declared Anyanwu the candidate of the party after the exercise. He was not challenged in the election after his only challenger and the immediate governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha, pulled out from the primary election. Anyanwu served as the senator that represented Imo East senatorial district between 2015 and 2019, the period he served as the senate committee chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

  Thursday 13 April 2023 CBN forex ban: Nigerians imported N18tn cooking oil, meat, others in seven years – Report Doctors in diaspora petition National Assembly over anti-migration bill Yes Daddy: Obi fights back as criticism mounts over leaked audio Police arrest two over OAU student’s death Ex-Lagos deputy gov vows to renounce citizenship before Tinubu’s inauguration Many Nigerians feel deeply cheated by INEC, says Chimamanda No fake news in saying Obi, Datti are inviting insurrection, Lai replies Edwin Clark Stop announcing your moves, senate spokesperson cautions DSS, law enforcement agencies Atiku vs Tinubu: 25% of FCT votes not needed to win presidential election, says INEC Turkish president congratulates Tinubu, pledges more support for Nigeria FG files charges against Seplat, Roger Brown over ‘breach of immigration’ Many trapped as seven-storey building collapses in Banana Island Arewa elders: Tinubu must be sworn-in on May 29 | We’ll stand to protect democracy Diri Wins Bayelsa PDP Gov Ticket Unchallenged Anyanwu Emerges PDP Gov Candidate In Imo Nigeria’s GDP To Grow By 3.2% In 2023 – IMF LP Factions Clash In Abuja As Leadership Crisis Festers Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State, has been declared as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 11, 2023. The announcement was made by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, who served as the chief returning officer for the party’s governorship primaries. According to Adeleke, Diri emerged victorious with 305 votes out of 315 delegates who were present at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Center in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The ad-hoc delegates were drawn from the eight local government areas of the state. The primary election was presided over by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

  Amiddle-aged man has been allegedly kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified assailants in Umuchu community in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. The victim, Alexander Nwosu, is owner of a petrol station and hotel in the community and was reportedly kidnapped while at home with his wife and children. It was gathered that the whereabouts of the victim, kidnapped March 31, 2023 is still unknown. A family source, however said the abductors demanded a ransom of N50million. The source said: ‘The masked assailants, numbering about 10, invaded the victim’s house in a Toyota Sienna vehicle and shot heavily into the air for several minutes before gaining entrance into the compound and took him away in the presence of his wife and children. “The pressure sent panic to the whole community. His residence is located along the Isuofia-Ekwulobia Road, near the Ekwulobia Police Station. “Since the incident, his wife has not been seen and her telephone line has not been connecting. But last Friday, the captors called the family members and demanded for N50m ransom after which we have not heard from them again.” Contacted, Anambra Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga simply replied: “No such report like that before me, please.”

  Twelve persons lost their lives in a motor accident at Ezillo in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State along the even busy Enugu-Abakaliki Highway. Daily Trust gaathered that the accident that happened at about 10am on Tuesday involved an unmarked truck and a white shuttle bus with registration number EBJ 350 XA. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander, Mrs Uche Chukwurah, confirmed the accident to journalists in Abakiliki. She noted that 10 females and two males on board were among the deceased. Chukwurah said two injured passengers were receiving treatment at Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki.

  A former governor of Anambra State, Chinwoke Mbadinuju is dead. He passed away at the age of 78 on Tuesday morning at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness. The ex-governor’s death was announced in a statement by Cheta Mbadinuju, for the family. Mbadinuju was Anambra governor between May 1999 and May 2003. “With heavy hearts but utmost gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our father, grand father, uncle, friend and associate, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State and elder statesman,” the family stated. “At this trying time, we pray for God’s grace and mercy upon him and those left behind to mourn him. “His funeral arrangements will be announced in due course by the family.”