Federal civil servants on Tuesday protested the removal of over 17,000 workers from the monthly payroll of the federal government on the platform of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Daily Trust reports that the federal government had delisted over 17,000 government employees from the IPPIS platform for failing to comply with a verification exercises spanning over five years. But addressing journalists in Abuja, the civil servants under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), alleged that there were some discrepancies in the IPPIS verification process. President of ASCSN, Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, told newsmen that names of Personal Assistants (PAs), Special Advisers (SAs) and in some cases Ministers who had served in successive governments were found on the portal. While calling the workers to remain calm since measures were being taken to address the situation, Okon also criticised his members, wondering why most genuine civil servants feigned ignorance of the verification exercise, while it lasted. He, however, noted that the office of the Head of Service of the Federation has given a one-week period for affected employees who were erroneously omitted from the IPPIS portal to forward their documents for update, provided they had genuine cases. He said, “We called your attention to what we heard or information at our disposal just few days ago, we received an information that over 17,000 workers in the core civil service did not carry out the online verification which was done by the office of the Head of Service of the Federation. “Quickly we swung into action to interface with the government through the HoSF and by that singular act, there was need for us to talk to our members and that informed the reasons, because we have seen a lot of apprehensions from our members, receiving several phone calls, then we also looked at the timing because of the social economic challenges. “We went deep into the document where we also realised that even in some government agencies, we realised that names of PAs, SAs and some Ministers were included in the IPPIS portal, whereas those people were political office holders in their own rights in various regimes.”

  The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, restrained the Ondo State House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct. Justice Emeka Nwite gave the restraining order in a ruling shortly after Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Kayode Adewusi, moved an ex parte motion to the effect. The judge also restrained Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding the same to the lawmakers for approval pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter. Justice Nwite held that after listening to Adewusi, he was of the view that the interest of justice would be met by granting the application. “Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” he held. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the embattled deputy governor had, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services. Others joined in the suit are Akeredoku, Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly as 1st to 6th respondents, respectively. In the application filed by Mr Adelanke Akinrata on September 21, Aiyedatiwa sought four reliefs. Justice Nwite, who granted all the reliefs, adjourned the matter until October 9 for hearing. Meanwhile, hundreds of indigenes of Ilaje community in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday, stormed Akure, the state capital, to protest against the ongoing impeachment process against Aiyedatiwa. Aiyedatiwa, who is also an Ilaje man, had been served the impeachment notice by the state House of Assembly and was expected to respond to all the allegations in the notice. The protesters, who gathered in front of the entrance of the Assembly gate with leaves in their hands, chanted various solidarity songs to express their support for the embattled deputy governor. Some of them carried placards with inscriptions such as “Justice for Lucky, Lucky is innocent”; “Stop accusing him wrongly”; “Ilaje Nation stands with Aiyedatiwa”; “Aketi, Lucky is not your enemy,” and “Let Lucky finish his term,” among several others. The protesters alleged that the impeachment proceedings were a plot to take Aiyedatiwa out of the race of the 2024 governorship election in the state. Speaking on the development, one of the leaders of the protesters and Founder of the Ilaje World Congress, Mr Ola Juda, declared that the indigenes of Ilaje would not tolerate the impeachment move against Aiyedatiwa. He said, “This gathering is the gathering of sons and daughters of Ilaje land; not only Ilaje, but we also have other sympathisers from Akure and Ese-Odo Idanre axis that have come together to protest against injustice and the battle that is going to erupt in Ondo State. The peace of Ondo State is being threatened by the actions of the Ondo State House of Assembly. “For the past decades, an Ilaje man has never been a deputy governor but for the first time, we have a deputy governor, and yet powers that be have vowed that he will not finish his tenure. Aketi/Lucky mandate was given to both of them and if Aketi is still the governor of Ondo State, our mandate as the deputy governor remains.” However, no member of the House came out to address the protesters. The Akure Area Commander of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr Nzota Chidi, who addressed the protesters, advised them to be peaceful in order not to be infiltrated by miscreants. In a related development, some former members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have condemned the process taken by the state Assembly to impeach the deputy governor. The former lawmakers, under the auspices of the Concerned All Progressives Congress’ Ex-Lawmakers in Ondo State, said it was too early for the members of the 10th Assembly to take the issue of impeachment as a major priority at the expense of various challenges facing the state in recent times. Speaking in Akure on Tuesday on behalf of others, a former lawmaker, Mr Abiodun Jerome, urged the state Assembly to play the game according to the rules, warning them against causing chaos in the state. Jerome said, “Our intention is purely advisory. May we remind you, dear honourables (lawmakers) that Chapter 5 Part 2 and Section 90 to 129 of the Nigerian Constitution is very clear on the establishment of the House of Assembly and its functions. “The present House of Assembly is less than four months old, and it’s very unfortunate that impeachment proceeding is their priority amongst the myriads of critical issues confronting our state presently. “As former lawmakers, we have the responsibility to point attention to all forms of abnormalities we observe so that the general public is not misled. Although we could have ordinarily ignored the shenanigans of the orchestrators of the dastardly act, we are compelled by the trust once held by us with the political responsibilities as representatives of our various constituencies.” Similarly, a political organisation under the aegis of Ondo State Consciousness Movement, on Tuesday, warned members of the Ondo State House of Assembly against being used as a political tool in the hands of the executive to achieve a predetermined objective. The chairman of OCM, Shalom Olaseni, in a statement, said that the legislature should not allow its hallowed chambers to be tainted with political witch-hunts or targeted vendettas as being rumoured in various quarters in the state. He said, “The alleged discord between the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who recently returned from a protracted sick leave abroad, and the deputy governor, stemming from the deputy governor’s alleged gubernatorial ambitions, should not be allowed to overshadow the pursuit of justice and adherence to constitutional principles.”

  A devastating fire broke out at a wedding in Al-Hamdaniya in northern Iraq’s Nineveh province, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 people and leaving 150 others injured. The incident occurred while hundreds of people were celebrating at the venue, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, although early reports suggest it may have been sparked by fireworks. The highly flammable building materials used in the venue’s construction contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, causing parts of the ceiling to collapse. While some guests managed to escape, many were trapped inside the burning hall. It remains unclear whether the bride and groom were among the victims, with conflicting reports suggesting their fate. Firefighters battled the blaze, and rescuers searched through the rubble for survivors. The injured have been transported to hospitals across the Nineveh region, but the death toll may still rise. Iraq’s prime minister has called for all efforts to provide relief to those affected by the tragic incident.

  The Nigerian Air Force fighter jets under the air component of Operation Udo Ka II, on Tuesday, destroyed the armouries and hideouts of the Indigenous People of Biafra combatants in Anambra and Imo states. The fighter jets conducted several air strikes on the IPOB fighters enclaves in Mother Valley Orsumughu in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and at Aku Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. According to a statement on Wednesday by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the air operations were executed following an intelligence report that the fighters had concluded plans to unleash mayhem on the residents and other states in the region. He said some of the bombed locations were considered to be their amouries. The statement read, “Aircraft under the Air Component of Operation Udo Ka II, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, carried out several strikes on IPOB/ESN locations at Mother Valley Orsumughu in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and at Aku Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. The strikes at both locations achieved their intended outcome and were deemed effective. “Acting on credible intelligence that IPOB/ESN terrorists had perfected plans to disrupt civic activities lined up in the coming days in Anambra State and other states in Southeast Nigeria from their concealed bunkers/hideouts at Mother Valley Orsumughu, air strikes were authorised in conjunction with ground troops and other security agencies on the location believed to also house some of their weapons and ammunitions. The strikes hit the target and were deemed successful following the ball of fire, fleeing terrorists at the location as well as feedback received. ” Gabkwet also noted that air strikes destroyed IPOB fighters’ camps where they were billed to hold their meeting in Imo state. “Air strikes were also conducted on, the same day, in close coordination with surface forces at IPOB/ESN hideout camps in Aku Ihube In Imo State after a detailed analysis of intelligence on the terrorists converging for a likely rendezvous at their hideout. Consequently, air strikes were also authorised to strike the hideout. The targets were acquired and attacked in succession, with a high degree of success,” the statement added.

  Wednesday 27 September 2023 Indefinite strike: OPS kicks as Labour vows to shut down airports, others Tuesday Landlord baths 11-year-old with hot water Cardoso to clear dollar debts, suspend intervention loans Fuel, car, others imports gulp $46bn annually – FG Senate Confirms Appointment Of CBN Governor-Nominee Cardoso, Deputies Lagos Governorship Elections: Rhodes-Vivour Heads To Appeal Court Market Forces Can Never Stabilise Naira, Govt Must Intervene – Oshiomhole INEC Fixes Date For Edo, Ondo Gov Polls We’re Tired Of FG’s Promises, All We Want Is Action – TUC Alleged Misconduct: Court Stops Ondo State Deputy Governor’s Impeachment Three Injured As Gunmen Kidnap Nasarawa Poly Student FG Promises 25% Of National Budget For Education Mbah Visits Site Of Collapsed Bridge In Enugu, Tasks FG On Road Maintenance I’m Not A Drug Lord, Do Not Belong To Any Cult – Naira Marley Oshodi-Apapa: You can’t evict us, truck drivers, touts dare Sanwo-Olu Subsidy removal has rubbished new wage review for academic staff —Poly lecturers Insecurity: FG boosts Army operations with 12 attack helicopters Cult killings: DSS grills Sagamu LG boss, 2 others Police arraign ex-Ogun LG chair, Adedayo, over alleged ‘circulation of falsehood’ Police arrest 92 suspects, rescue 12 kidnap victims in Enugu Suspected killer of Rivers DPO saved from lynching, detained Naira hits all-time low, trades N1,000/$ at parallel market Ekiti LG Poll: I Won’t Impose Any Candidate – Gov Oyebanji Set Aside Your Differences, Akpabio Urges Aggrieved Senators Defence chief solicits Nigerians’ support in fight against insurgents, criminals Poverty, agitation rising –Akpabio Fed Govt needs N217b to complete 269 roads Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Some yet-to-be-identified assailants have allegedly abducted the Chairman of Mgbuka Amazu Market, Onitsha in Anambra State, Chief Enibe Francis, over circumstances said to be related to Monday’s sit-at-home. According to Journalist101, sources in the market on Tuesday confirmed that the incident happened on Monday shortly after the chairman had opened the market as directed by the market associations in the state. was gathered that the armed hoodlums beat him to a stupor after which they bundled him into a waiting vehicle and drove to an unknown destination and his whereabouts were still unknown. The state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, had directed market leaders in the state to open their markets on Mondays by observing prayer sessions and cleaning the markets and drainages. In the past few weeks, market executives in the state, led by the president of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Humphrey Anuna, have been moving around markets across the state on Mondays to monitor and ensure that markets comply with the directive of opening on Mondays. This is to counter the Monday sit-at-home exercise. After the monitoring exercise about three weeks ago, Anuna announced the sealing of no fewer than seven markets after they were found not to have complied with the directive. Confirming the abduction of the market leader to journalists, Anuna said he had been briefed and the market executives were making frantic efforts to establish contact with him. “He was said to have been whisked away when about five full armed men stormed his shop while shooting indiscriminately into the air, beat him to stupor and dumped him into the boot of their waiting SUV vehicle and zoomed off.” The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a message to JOURNALIST101 said there’s away of the situation and monitoring it closely. “We are aware of the development and the situation the situation is being monitored, please.” The Mgbuka Amazu Market is an old motor spare parts market situated along the heavily deplorable Onitsha-Owerri Road, where vehicles are stuck for several hours in traffic in flood-covered ditches. Some of the residents who reacted wondered how the hoodlums were able to whisk the market leader away without any resistance.

  THE Department of State Service, DSS, yesterday, invited the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mr. Afolabi Odulate, and two others for questioning over the recent bloody cult clashes in the Sagamu area of the state, where 20 persons were killed. Other persons invited for interrogation by the secret Police, according to a reliable source, included the lawmaker representing Sagamu 2, Mr Adeniran Ademola aka Sapele; and a lady, Ifeoluwa Akinyemi. The source said: “The three were invited by the DSS for questioning to aid in further investigation of the mayhem in the town, which lasted for over four days and claimed several lives.” It was gathered that Ifeoluwa Akinyemi was later released after interrogation. Six suspects and the lawmaker representing Sagamu State Constituency 1, Mr Damilare Mohammed, were picked up last Wednesday. The lawmaker was arrested while providing shelter for the fleeing cultists at his official residence in Abeokuta, where many dangerous weapons, including guns, were recovered. The sources added that more people may be invited for interrogation as time goes on.