Crime Facts

Palliatives will continue until hardship is addressed, says FG

  Mohammed Idris, the minister of information, says the federal government will continue the disbursement of palliatives across the country until the hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy is addressed. The minister who spoke at a reception organised by the Niger state government, on Saturday, assured Nigerians that the federal government will continue to develop policies that promote national values and orientation among the citizens. He noted that state governments should support the federal government in the project of reorienting Nigerians. The minister also said the President Bola Tinubu administration is conscious of the people’s needs, and its agenda has been designed to address the leading socio-economic challenges and create jobs for the youth. On August 23, the minister had said the new administration will not rely on propaganda to propagate government programmes and policies. He said the administration will strive to restore people’s confidence and trust in the government by implementing tangible and credible policies. Speaking at the event, Mohammed Bago, governor of Niger State, congratulated those who secured political positions at both the federal and state levels and urged them to be good ambassadors of the state. He commended the federal government on the plans to ameliorate the suffering of the citizens, promising that the state governors would play their part in ensuring that the palliatives reach those for whom they were intended. Bago noted that Niger state provides opportunities for agriculture with its mass arable land, saying it can play a huge role in the federal government’s desire to create more prosperity for Nigerians.

BREAKING: Court sacks another Imo PDP Reps member

  The Imo Sate National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal has sacked the lawmaker representing Ehime Mbano/Ihite-Uboma/ Obowo federal constituency, Mr. Okeke Jonas Onwuegbu. The tribunal, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, held that Onwuegbu, who was declared winner of the House of Representatives election that held on February 25, was not validly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.   In the lead judgement that was read by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, the tribunal held that in violation of the provision of section 84 (5) (c)bof the Electoral Act 2022, the PDP, conducted the primary election that produced Onwuegbu as its candidate, in a venue that was outside the constituency. Consequently, it held that the PDP conducted a primary election that was unknown to law. Besides, the tribunal, which conducted its proceedings in Nasarawa state, issued an order, setting aside “the purported return of the 1st respondent as winner of the Ehime Mbano/Ihite-Uboma/ Obowo federal constituency election.” The judgement followed a petition marked: EPT/IM/HR/17/2023, which was filed before the tribunal by candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Nwachukwu Austine. Even though it nullified Onwuegbu’s of election, the tribunal, said it could not issue further consequential orders that were not sought by the petitioner. According to the tribunal, the petitioner, having failed to seek further reliefs, “we will not play the role of Santa Claus even if it is Christmas season.” It will recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Onwuegbu of the PDP as winner of the election with a total of 19,468 votes. His closest rival, Okafor Chike John of the All Progressives Congress, APC, got 15, 920 votes, the LP candidate, Austine, came third with a total of 6, 877 votes, while the candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Reginald Keke, came a distant fourth with a total of 1, 506 votes. However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, candidates of the APC, LP and PRP, approached the tribunal to nullify the election. Meanwhile, the tribunal is set to deliver its judgement on the petition that the candidate of the APC, John, filed to be declared the authentic winner of the House of Reps election

Robbery suspects arrested on Second Niger Bridge convicted, bag 13 years jail term

  The Anambra State Police Command said it had secured the conviction of the two robbers arrested on the Second Niger Bridge a couple of weeks ago. The robbers who were arrested on the bridge with two daggers and five sim cards removed from the phones of their victims pleaded guilty when arraigned in court. This was disclosed in a statement by the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, issued to journalists on Sunday. Ikenga said both accused persons were sentenced to five years jail terms on each of the first two counts, and three years imprisonment for the third count, adding that the sentences which are without an option of a fine are to run concurrently. He said, “In compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, detectives worked on the sim cards and traced two of the victims, one of whom is a lawyer. “The victims cooperated with investigation and evidence gathered was presented before the court. Both accused persons were sentenced to five years jail terms on each of the first two counts, and 3 years imprisonment for the third count. “The sentences which are without an option of fine are to run concurrently. The convicts have been remanded at the Onitsha Correctional Centre to serve their jail terms.” He added that the CP advised youths to learn lessons from this conviction and shun crime in order not to jeopardise their future. In a similar development, the state police command has also arraigned 33 suspected cultists in court for sundry criminal charges in the wake of a new crackdown ordered by the CP. Ikenga said the suspected cultists who were arraigned in two batches of nine and 24 were charged with membership of unlawful societies, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession and use of hard drugs and other psychotropic substances. “Several suspects are still being held in custody and investigation into various murders committed by suspected cultists is still ongoing. “The Commissioner of Police has reiterated his stand that there will be no sacred cow in the new offensive against cultists.” Ikenga added, “He said the Command will never compromise the ongoing investigation and anyone indicted by evidence will be brought to book no matter how highly placed.”

Tribunal Declares Jigawa House Of Reps Election Inconclusive

  The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Jigawa State, has declared the outcome of the House of Representatives election of the Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal constituency as inconclusive. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adamu Yakubu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 39,998 votes as winner of the poll. Yakubu defeated the APC candidate, Magaji Da’u, who scored 36,735, but Da’u challenged the outcome of the election at the tribunal. The election petition tribunal said the election ought to have been declared inconclusive at the first instance because the margin of canceled votes outnumbered the winning votes. The chairperson of the tribunal, A. Okeke, ruled that INEC did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, in declaring the result. “INEC did not follow regulations and guidelines, and the manual for Election officials for the 2023 election in conducting the election, and the noncompliance substantially affected the outcome of the election,” Okeke said. The judge then ordered a re-run election on eight polling units both in Birnin Kudu and Buji local government areas within 90 days. Reports indicated that the number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected for the eight polling units was 6, 351 and the APC candidate., Mr. Da’u was trailing behind with 1,926 votes.

NASS Poll: Tribunal Nullifies NNPP Candidate’s Victory In Kano

  The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kano State has nullified the electoral victory of Yusuf Umar Datti, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate for the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal House of Representatives Justice Ngozi Azinge, who presided over the case and delivered the verdict, cited Datti’s failure to resign from Bayero University, Kano, within 30 days before the election as the grounds for the decision. Justice Azinge emphasised the importance of electoral guidelines, stating, “electoral rules and regulations are crucial in maintaining the integrity of our democratic process. Failure to adhere to these rules can have serious consequences”. Following the ruling, Justice Azinge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to set aside the certificate of return that had previously been issued to Datti and declared Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful winner of the election. Kwankwaso secured the second-highest number of votes during the election held on February 25, 2023. In response to the tribunal’s decision, Kwankwaso expressed gratitude and commitment to serving the people, saying, “I appreciate the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the will of the people prevails. I am ready to fulfill my responsibilities as the elected representative for the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam constituency.”

Just In: Tribunal Sacks Ugochinyere Imo

  Imo State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has sacked the Member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The election Tribunal sitting in Mararaba High Court ruled that PDP has no candidate for the election as Primaries didn’t hold in the Federal Constituency. The panel also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct rerun election Calls in 4 Wards between APC and LP candidates. More details to come…..

24 Dead, Several Missing In Niger Boat Mishap

  Tragedy struck in Niger State on Sunday after a boat capsized in the Mokwa area of the state. The exact number of people onboard the boat and the cause of the accident is yet to be confirmed as at the time of filing this report. Speaking to the incident to Channels Television through a telephone call, the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Jibrim Muregi, confirmed the incident, saying rescue efforts are ongoing. He confirmed that 21 dead bodies were recovered, adding that three community members of Gbajibo, Ekwa and Yankeiade were also affected. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the mishap. He however said available information at the police disposal suggest that 13 people lost their lives. “Information received from Gbajibo area of Mokwa indicated that a wooden boat conveying some passengers on board from Gbajibo water side heading to Tungan-Mango for farming activities capsized,” the police spokesman said. “On receiving the report, DPO Mokwa Div mobilised police teams including marine police to the scene, in collaboration with local divers and so far thirteen persons confirmed dead as search and rescue operation is ongoing. Further development will be made public.” The latest incident comes three months after a boat carrying families returning from a wedding sank in a river, killing over 100 people on board.

Tinubu Heads For UAE To Resolve Visa Ban, Flights Suspension Issues

  Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:34:40 WAT President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to resolve the diplomatic dispute with Nigeria. The UAE authorities had in October 2022 slammed visa ban on Nigerians, coming shortly after the Emirates also suspended flights. Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, which was also operating to Dubai similarly suspended its flight as the UAE stopped issuance of visa to prospective travelers. Emirates had suspended its flight to Nigeria over its inability to repatriate trapped funds. When he hosted Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria at Aso Rock last month, the President had directed that issues affecting relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visas to Nigerians should be “immediately’’ resolved, emphasizing that he stands prepared to “personally’’ intervene. “We are a family with the UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem, and resolve it amicably. As you know in every family, there are peculiarities. You can have an erring son, or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” the President had said. On Sunday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, announced that Tinubu would meet UAE authorities over the issue. “President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the President’s departure from New Delhi, India.” “The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja. “The President is maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Following a successful investment drive on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, active participation in the G-20 Summit, and a productive stopover in the UAE, the President is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the bilateral engagement.”

US scientists develop artificial kidney, successfully test it on pigs

  Scientists have developed a device that mimics the functions of a kidney. The artificial kidney was created by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States. In a statement announcing the innovation, the university said the artificial kidney is made up of human kidney cells, housed in an implantable device called a bioreactor. It was successfully tested in pigs for a week and found to mimic several important kidney functions. The device can work quietly in the background and does not trigger the recipient’s immune system to go on the attack. “Eventually, scientists plan to fill the bioreactor with different kidney cells that perform vital functions like balancing the body’s fluids and releasing hormones to regulate blood pressure – then pair it with a device that filters waste from the blood,” the statement reads. “The aim is to produce a human-scale device to improve on dialysis, which keeps people alive after their kidneys fail but is a poor substitute for having a real working organ.   “The next step will be month-long trials, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), first in animals and eventually in humans.” Shuvo Roy, a bioengineering professor in the UCSF School of Pharmacy, said the bioartificial kidney will make treatment for kidney disease more effective and also much more tolerable and comfortable. “We needed to prove that a functional bioreactor will not require immunosuppressant drugs, and we did. We had no complications and can now iterate up, reaching for the whole panel of kidney functions at the human scale,” he said.

EXTRA: Ronaldo Offers His Hotel As Shelter To Morocco’s Earthquake Survivors

  Pestana CR7, a 174-room hotel owned by Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Marrakesh, Morocco, has become a refuge site for the survivors of an earthquake in the country. The earthquake recorded in the North African country on Friday, has killed at least 2,012 people and injured over 2,000. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the tourist hub of Marrakesh, wiping out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas mountain range. As a result, people have taken to any buildings that they can to find shelter following the natural disaster, including Ronaldo’s hotel. According to Spanish newspaper, Marca, the Pestana CR7 Marrakesh is graded at four stars, just below luxury, and includes an outdoor pool, fitness centre, restaurant, and terrace. But as Moroccans come together to attempt to find recovery, the hotel has set aside its up-market qualities. A Spanish national, Irene Seixas, said: “The hotels are the same. We had to come to the new area of Marrakesh, where there are more luxury hotels, so to speak. “Now we have managed to get Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotel, which is on the outskirts, to give us a room. Pestana CR7, a 174-room hotel owned by Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Marrakesh, Morocco has become a refuge site for the survivors of earthquake in the country. “We are waiting. We slept all night on the street and at seven in the morning they told us that yes, we could approach. We are in a lobby a lot of people of different nationalities, waiting to see if we can get a room, but we have all slept on the street.”