Hon Tajudeen Abbas emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday. Abbas, representing Zaria federal constituency, Kaduna State got a total of 353 votes from the members-elect of the House. Here are what to know about Abbas: 1. Abbas was born on October 1, 1963, in Kaduna State and hails from the Zaria Local Government and is a member of the Zazzau Emirate Council with the traditional title, the Iyan Zazzau. 2. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, in 1988 and 1993 respectively. 3. He furthered his education by completing a doctoral degree in business management at the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto in 2010. He lectured at the Kaduna State University (KASU). 4. From 2001 to 2005, Abbas worked as a Marketing Manager at the Nigerian Tobacco Distribution Company, now the British-American Tobacco Company. Abbas left the private sector to join politics in 2010. He contested for the House of Representatives seat in 2011 and won. 5. He sponsored the highest number of bills in the 8th Assembly between 2015 and 2019 and also sponsored record-breaking 74 bills out of which 21 were signed into law between 2019 and 2023. 6. He had served in about five committees in the House since 2015 including Commerce, Finance, Special Duties, Defence, Public Procurement, and National Planning and Economic Development Committee. 7. Until his emergence as the Speaker, Abbas was the House Committee Chairman for Land Transport.

  Guinness World Records (GWR) has confirmed Nigerian chef, Hilda Bassey aka Hilda Baci as the new record holder for longest cooking marathon by an individual. “Following a thorough review of all the evidence, Guinness World Records can now confirm that Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, has officially broken the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes,” GWR said in a statement released on Tuesday, one month after Baci’s adventurous cooking. According to GWR, Baci attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt. “As with all ‘longest marathon’ records, the participant is permitted a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity. These rest breaks can be accumulated if not taken. They were the only times Hilda could use the bathroom or sleep during the attempt,” the statement partly read, After reviewing all the footage, we’re delighted to announce that Hilda Baci is the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon (individual) ???? Watch the video to find out the official time we’ve awarded Hilda and read the full explanation below ???? pic.twitter.com/bf352ndxWO — Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 13, 2023 During her waiting period, another Nigerian chef based in Ekiti State, Damilola Adeparusi, announced a 120-hour cook-a-thon but her attempt has been met with a mixture of applause and criticisms. The previous record of 87 hours 45 minutes was set by India-based chef, Lata Tondon in 2019. Hilda attempted this record to “put Nigerian cuisine on the map” and “to inspire young African women to chase their dreams.” “I also decided to break this record to truly push my limits and test my abilities,” she added. Hilda prepared for the event by creating a 35-item menu “as a guide” for every meal that she would cook. She ensured that she had the necessary ingredients to make each recipe, with her team procuring further food items while the cook-a-thon was underway “based on what was needed to be topped up.” Hilda’s record attempt took the world of social media by storm, with millions in Nigeria and beyond following her progress via an Instagram live stream. GWR stated that Baci’s cook-a-thon was so popular that its website crashed for two days due to the unprecedented volume of traffic. Several high-profile Nigerian figures visited Hilda to support her during her record attempt, such as then President Muhammadu Buhari. then Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; and award-winning singer Tiwa Savage. GWR added, “After graduating from Madonna University, Nigeria, with a degree in sociology, Hilda decided to embark on her culinary career. She was inspired by her mother, Lynda Ndukwe, who is also a chef. “Hilda went from success to success, hosting television show Dine on a Budget in 2020, before winning the Jollof Face-off competition in 2021. Representing her native Nigeria, Hilda beat Ghana’s Leslie Kumordzie to claim the victory. “Now, in 2023, she is officially a Guinness World Records title holder. Congratulations, Hilda!”

  Senator Jibrin Barau, on Tuesday, emerged as Deputy Senate President of the 10th National Assembly. Senator Dave Umahi nominated Senator Barau as Deputy Senate President and read his citation after which the nominee accepted the nomination. The Clerk of the Red Chamber after asking if there are further nominations, declared Senator Jibrin Barau as Deputy Senate President unopposed. Senator Barau was thereafter sworn in as Deputy Senate President of the 10th National Assembly. Earlier, Senator Godswill Akpabio was elected Senate President after he defeated Senator Abdulaziz Yari. The former Akwa Ibom governor was returned elected as President of the 10th Senate after scoring 63 votes defeating Senator Yari who scored 46 votes. Senator Akpabio was subsequently sworn in as the President of the Senate for the 10th National Assembly, succeeding Senator Ahmad Lawan, who is also a member of the 10th Senate.

  A former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has emerged as the Senate President of the 10th Assembly. Akpabio was the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Akpabio was sworn in as the Senate President after garnering 63 votes, leaving his rival, Yari Abdulaziz, to 46 votes. BACKGROUND Nigeria’s new Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is one of the few lucky Nigerians born with a silver spoon, noting that he has family members who have been in governance and at the helm of affairs for a long time. Akpabio is perceived to be from a strong political dynasty; his grandfather, Okuku Udo Akpabio, was the Warrant Chief in Ikot Ekpene province in the old Nigeria, while his uncle, Dr Ibanga Akpabio, was the Minister of Education/Internal Affairs in the then Eastern Nigeria. His cousin, Justice Nsima Akpabio, was also a senator in the Second Nigerian Republic. Political journey from the classroom If you called Akpabio an ajebutter (elite), you would not be far from the truth. Akpabio has, from a young age, started his leadership journey as he has occupied one significant office or another. Akpabio began his educational journey at the Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State; the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was a senior prefect; and completed his secondary school education. His leadership journey continued even after secondary school, as he was elected Speaker of a Parliamentary Year during his sojourn as a student at the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained his law degree. Professional background: Teacher to Managing Director Having obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Law, Akpabio had a short stint as a teacher before he moved on to work as an associate with Paul Usoro and Co., a law firm in Nigeria. From there, he served in the telecommunications industry with EMIS Telecoms Limited, a wireless telecommunications company in Lagos, Nigeria, and in 2002, he rose to the position of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company. Akpabio also served at the national level as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria. An ambitious politician While serving as the MD of EMIS Telecoms, Akpabio, in 2002, he was appointed as the Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources by the then Governor Obong Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a commissioner in three key ministries: Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as Lands and Housing. Following his stint as commissioner, Akpabio threw his hat into the ring for the Akwa Ibom governorship election, where he battled with 57 others to clinch the ticket of his then party, the Peoples Democratic Party. Launched with the slogan, “Thy will be done,” Akpabio won the governorship election in 2006 and got re-elected as the number one citizen of Akwa Ibom for the second time in 2011. In 2013, Akpabio was elected chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum. Akpabio’s voyage into the Parliament In 2015, he contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District to represent the district in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Running under the platform of the PDP, he polled 422,009 of the 439,449 votes to defeat Chief Inibehe Okorie of the APC, who recorded 15,152 votes to be declared elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Akpabio, in 2015, as a first timer against Senate rule, was made a principal officer as the Senate Minority Leader. In August 2018, he resigned as the Senate Minority Leader after announcing his defection to the All Progressives Congress. From legislature back to the Executive In July 2019, he was nominated by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, and screened by the Nigerian Senate for a ministerial appointment. On August 21, 2019, he was sworn in as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs. In June 2022, Akpabio’s ambition went even higher when he resigned his appointment as the minister for Niger Delta Affairs to contest in the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress but stepped down on the night of the primaries for the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Cross-carpeting back to the legislature Having stepped down for the President, Akpabio, against all odds, clinched his senatorial ticket through a court order from a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom. Having secured the ticket, Akpabio began the tussle for the Senate Presidency and eventually got anointed as the party’s choice. Scandals The name Akpabio would ring a bell among Nigerians with notable scandals. Godswill Akpabio was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on accusations that he diverted over N100 billion from Akwa Ibom State during his time as governor (2007-2015) with American diplomats calling the level of corruption “exceptional” during his tenure. However, no charges have been filed. A lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, who also accused Akpabio of corruption, was later arraigned by the police in court for defamation. Also in April 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, through a letter, asked the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs to report to its headquarters in Abuja for interrogation over a corruption investigation against him. Akpabio, however, through his lawyer, Umeh Kalu, SAN, said in a letter to the commission dated March 27 that his client would not be able to honour the invitation due to a scheduled medical appointment overseas. Akpabio then vanished into thin air, only to return to the country some days after the president came into the country to continue his race for the Senate Presidency. Other corruption cases in NDDC The notable corruption cases in NDDC during Akpabio’s first year as minister include the admission by the acting managing director of the commission, Kemebradikumo Pondei, that the commission spent N1.5 billion for its staff as ‘COVID-19 relief funds’. Also, the Senate said top management of the NDDC paid themselves N85.6 million to attend a graduation ceremony

  The kidnapped Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father Jeremiah Yakubu has been released by his abductors. This was confirmed by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Father Emmanuel Okolo, who said that the kidnapped priest regained his freedom on Monday evening. He, however, did not disclose if any ransom was paid or not before the abducted priest was released. Yakubu was kidnapped from the parish rectory in the Kauru Local Government at about 11 pm on Sunday.   Kidnapping for ransom is common across Nigeria’s North-west and North-central regions. Kaduna is one of the worst-hit states. Religious clerics and peasants in vulnerable communities in the state have fallen prey to the kidnappers. Some of them have been killed in captivity, while others were freed after ransom payment.

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has issued a fresh circular to oil marketers on how much they will pay to get petroleum products. This came about two weeks after the Federal Government announced the removal of fuel subsidy. NNPCL Retail, in a circular released on Sunday, and obtained by The PUNCH, directed marketers to consider merging their old orders which carry the old fuel price in order to buy a truck of 45 million litres of petrol. The PUNCH gathered that marketers had before the deregulation ordered one truck of petrol for about N7.7m. However, the new circular by the company advised marketers who had probably ordered three trucks at N7.5m (N171/litre old price), to merge their orders or ask for a refund. “Following the full deregulation of PMS, NNPC Retail has made the following options available to help customers manage the impact of the additional cash flow requirement: Marketers now have the option of consolidating pre-paid self-owned tickets for fresh tickets in line with the revised price. Interested marketers can engage their respective NRL Depot Representative for guidance on how to initiate this option. “Also, there is an option for cash refund. Marketers who are interested in initiating this option should send in official request addressed to the MD NNPC Retail. The request should include evidence of payment and order details (RRR number, Sales quotation number and Meter ticket number). Upon receipt of official request together with the above supporting documents, your refund request will be made processed,” the memo from NNPCL Retail read in part. Oil marketers on Monday confirmed the development to The PUNCH. “Removing petrol subsidies is one of the best decisions Nigeria would ever make because smuggling would stop. This is the time we will know the real petrol consumption of Nigeria, likewise, many smaller stations will fold up and would get acquired by bigger ones” Oyabanji said.

  Four policemen attached to the Ogudu Police Division in Lagos State have extorted an undergraduate of Cyprus University, Emmanuel Nnawuihe, of N153,000 in the Ojota area of the state. PUNCH Metro gathered that Nnawuihe was driving to a destination in the state when the policemen, who were on operational duty, flagged him down for a search around the under-bridge area of Ojota. After obliging the policemen’s request, it was learnt that the policemen searched Nnawuihe’s vehicle and his mobile phone and found nothing incriminating. Instead of allowing the undergraduate to continue his journey, the policemen reportedly took him to a lonely spot around the under bridge where he was forced to open his mobile bank application. Speaking with one of our correspondents, a source said upon sighting that Nnawuihe had about N2m in his bank account, the four policemen allegedly threatened to harm him unless he agreed to transfer the money into an account owned by another person who was not at the scene. The source said the undergraduate refused because he did nothing wrong and that the money does not belong to him but the policemen kept threatening him. Observing that his life was in harm’s way through the desperation of the policemen, the source said the undergraduate initiated a negotiation with them, adding that through the negotiation, the policemen settled for N153,000 and provided the account number where the money was paid into. The source said, “The incident happened around 3.30pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023, but Nnawuihe transferred the money around 4.08pm. What exactly happened was that the policemen stopped his vehicle around Ojota, when they did not find anything incriminating on him, they took him to a location where he was threatened to part away with the N2m found in his bank account. “But he disagreed with them and they threatened to harm him till he agreed to pay them N153,000 after a series of negotiations. The policemen were the ones that provided the account number where the money was transferred into. It was after he transferred the money that the policemen released him.” Our correspondents gathered that Nnawuihe, who became angered after being extorted by the policemen, informed the Lagos State Police Command and the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, detailed policemen to track down the accused policemen and bring them in for questioning. How policemen extort N100,000 from Lagos barber During the investigation, Nnawuihe was taken to the Ogudu Police Division where he identified the policemen and they were taken to the police headquarters in Ikeja where they were detained for further interrogation. It was learnt that Nnawuihe also wrote an official statement to corroborate his claims and provided the receipt of the N153,000 transfer he made to the account provided by the accused policemen. While assessing the receipt in possession of one of our correspondents, it was observed that the money was transferred into an account owned by one Edidiong Anthony Ekpo. As of the time of filing this report, our correspondents gathered that the money had been refunded back to the undergraduate and the four policemen had been undergoing an orderly room trial. It was also learnt that pending the outcome of the orderly room trial, the CP ordered the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer, Ogudu Division, CSP Celestina Kalu, over failure to supervise her men linked to the extortion meted against Nnawuihe. Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, noting that the command had commenced an investigation into the case. He said, “The money (N153,000) has been refunded to the victim and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Idowu Owohunwa, has ordered a probe of the allegation against the policemen who are currently in detention. The policemen are undergoing an orderly room trial. The redeployment of DPOs is routine.” However, police extortion of motorists and residents has been on the increase in the state. In a statement by Hundeyin on Saturday, April 16, 2023, Owohunwa ordered the immediate removal of the DPO of Okokomaiko, SP Emmanuel Edebagha, for also failing to supervise his men who were accused of extorting a trader in the Alaba International Market, Onyinyechi Anwusi, of N100,000.

  Tuesday 13 June 2023 ASUU, ASUP express doubts over student loan National Assembly: APC anointed candidates, rebels to slug it out Rogue cops extort N153,000 from undergraduate, CP removes DPO Subsidy removal: Nigerians are suffering, NBA-SPIDEL tells Tinubu Tinubu, govs urge Nigerians to defend democracy LP Fighting For Democracy Today, Will Be Celebrated Tomorrow – Spokesman UK’s Sunak In Slanging Match With Predecessor Johnson We Can’t Achieve Much With 1999 Constitution, It’s A Military Tool – Gani Adams Kidnapped Catholic Priest Regains Freedom In Kaduna Two Imo APC Members Die In Delta Road Accident Five Travellers Dead In Ondo Auto Crash N/Assembly Inauguration: Akpabio, Yari, Abbas, Wase Slug It Out Today 13 Killed In Delta, Abuja Road Accidents 3 Arrested Over Murder Of School Teacher In Lagos Sources: Orji Kalu, Izunaso considering dropping out of senate president race ‘End our tears’ — parents beg Tinubu to secure release of 92 Chibok schoolgirls Don’t intimidate the judiciary, Atiku’s aide tells Tinubu   Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  With only few hours to the inauguration of the 10th national assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia state, and Osita Izunaso, a former national organising secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are considering dropping out of the race for senate presidency, TheCable understands. Kalu, Izunaso, and Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state had insisted on running for office of the senate president despite the stance of their party. The ruling party had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Niger Delta affairs, as senate president, and chose Jibrin Barau, senator representing Kano north, as deputy senate president. Despite the position of the party and pleas from President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the trio insisted on running. But in last minute negotiations, Kalu and Izunaso have considered dropping out of the race after a south-east leaders meeting. Senators-elect from other geo-political zones also attended. A source privy to the happenings said Yari might now be on his own because of the duo’s move to align with the ruling party. “All the 15 senators-elect from south-east have agreed to support Godswill Akpabio. They held a meeting with him where they pledged their support to him,” the source said.   “Also some of the northern senators-elect especially in the APC who refused to support Akpabio’s bid have also fallen in line. Sani Musa of Niger who was aiming to be deputy senate president has stepped down for Barau. Yari is on his own now.” Abdul Ningi, a former principal officer of the senate, said last week that Yari had more than 60 senators-elect are supporting his bid. On Thursday, a federal high court in Abuja extended the order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) from detaining the former governor of Zamfara.