Oloibiri Community in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State was over the weekend thrown into mourning, as a farmer, who was also a hunter, reportedly killed himself with the Dane gun he used to hunt animals in the forest. The locals told City & Crime that the middle-aged hunter, identified as Mr Claude Tonworio, was said to have killed himself with the gun he was hanging on his neck while trying to transfer his harvested farm produce with his canoe to the upland. Tonworio, a father of six, who was also a civil servant, was said to have killed himself on August 26. A family source told newsmen that the family suspected that the bullet exploded and shattered the head of the deceased. She said: “The whole community is still in shock of his death. He is a civil servant but most weekends he comes to the village to stay with the family, and this Saturday was one of such. He left the family for the farm, with his tools and hunter gun to also hunt animals. “He usually went in a canoe where he kept whatever was harvested. On Saturday; August 26, he went normal hunting while his family was waiting for his return. He actually came back and was trying to bring in the farm produce when we heard a loud sound. But we didn’t suspect something had gone wrong, until the time people went outside to discover that he was lying on the mud bleeding and struggling for survival. “All attempts to rush him to the hospital were not successful, as he died on the way. The corpse was later taken to the water side for rituals as the custom demands. “He must have slipped and fallen and the gun, which was loaded already, exploded. It’s a sad incident for the family. Who will take care of the six children he left behind?” When contacted, the state police spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, said the incident was yet to be reported to the police.

  Traditional rulers in Bodo city, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, have scampered for safety, following the reports that their names were in a wanted list compiled by cultists terrorising the area. Bodo City has been at the mercy of cultists for over two months as the devil minded killers have continued to operate at will.   It was learned that between last week Monday and yesterday, the bandits have killed three people and sacked many households. State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nwonyi Emeka, had, weekend, visited Bodo over the development and called for calm, but three days later, the cultists struck again, killing one. A youth leader in the community, Justice Koozor, disclosed that the cultists invaded the community, yesterday morning under heavy gunfire and killed a youth,adding that the cultists have taken over the community’s farmland and that people can no longer access their farms. He said: “This morning (yesterday), we were told that a cult group led by one Donkey and Sticky-John was coming. They came in this morning with their guns, parading around and shooting. “They killed somebody and nobody was able to go to farm this morning. Many people are planning to pack out of the community because of insecurity. “The boys came and killed people and ran into the bush. They are everywhere in the bush. Bodo is not at peace.” However, the Vice-Chairman of Bodo Council of Traditional Rulers, Mene Joseph Poiba, Head, Bangha Dynasty, Bodo, expressed fears that the cultists were being sponsored to destroy the community. Poiba said the cultists have a list of chiefs they want to kill, including himself, stating that the chiefs were in hiding at the moment. He called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to urgently intervene in the development, noting that their farmlands have been taken over by cultists. Poiba, who made the call on behalf of the chiefs, elders and other stakeholders in the community during what appears to be a protest in the community, condemned the murder of another youth by the cultists. He said: “This morning, we saw cult boys, they came and killed somebody. I suggest that the governor should intervene. Both women and men are in fear. We are in hiding. They are sending people to spoil our community. “We are calling on the governor to set up committee to investigate what is going on in Bodo. Some of our people, who are outside the community are sponsoring these cultists to kill. “Even, as I talk, my name is on the list of the people they want to kill. The names of all the traditional rulers are with the boys to kill. I beg the governor to come to our aid.”

  The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal said it rejected 10 out of 13 witnesses presented by the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. Justice Haruna Tsammani, who took over to deliver judgment on the substantive petition filed by Obi and LP, said this on Wednesday. Tsammani said Obi called 13 witnesses, who testified as PW1 to PW13, noting that of the 13 witnesses, only three witnesses whose statements are on oath, were filed along with the petition. The remaining 10 witnesses, the Justice said, were subpoenaed and their witness statements on oath were only filed after the hearing started. Tsammani held that by virtue of section 285 of the Nigerian constitution, section 137(7) of the Electoral Act 2022, and other provisions, every witness statement on oath must be filed along with the petition. He said that based on the Supreme Court authority, once the 21-day window for filing an election petition elapses, the content of the petition cannot be amended. The Justice stated further that no additional statement on oath can be filed after the close of the specified window since the respondents would not have the opportunity to respond. Tsammani said the petitioners were aware of the legal provision relating to the filing of witness statements on oath, yet went ahead to present 10 witnesses without their witness statements on oath earlier filed with the petition. Details later…

  The Presidential Election Petitions Court has held that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lacks the locus standi to challenge Peter Obi’s membership of the Labour Pary (LP). APC and Bola Tinubu had in their petitions argued that Obi’s name was not contained in the list of LP members forwarded to INEC on April 25, 2022 and breached Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2022. But in the lead judgment on the objections by the APC against the petitions of Obi and the LP, Justice Abba Bello Mohammed held that the matter was solely an internal affair of the political party. “It is only the second respondent (LP) that has the sole prerogative of determining those who are its members,” he said. Justice Mohammed also dismissed APC’s objection on the non-joinder of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Obi and LP’s petition challenging the results of the election for him (Atiku) not being a necessary party in the petition.

  The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has struck out about 17 paragraphs from the petition brought before it by Peter Obi and the Labour Party. The court struck out the paragraphs for containing “vague and generic allegations”. A member of the tribunal’s five-member panel, Justice Abba Mohammed, read the lead judgment. Obi and LP are complainants in the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, challenging the election which brought Tinubu to power on May 29. The petitioners made allegations of irregularities and said they would rely on spreadsheets, inspection reports and forensic analysis filed with the petition during the trial. But in his lead judgement, Mohammed held that the petitioners failed to show which polling units the malpractices alleged occurred; the number of votes affected; and their polling unit agents who reported the alleged irregularities, and malpractices, among others. Details later…

  The Presidential Election Petition Court has struck out the Allied Peoples Movement petitions against President Bola Tinubu and his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, for lack of merit. The PEPC dismissed and described APM’s case filed to nullify Tinubu’s election as “incompetent”. The court held that issues raised by the APM in its petition contained pre-election matters that could only be determined by the Federal High Court. Chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, read the ruling. The tribunal also dismissed the APM petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission and four others. Listed as 1st to 5th respondents are INEC, All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and Kabiru Masari. The tribunal ruled on each of the arguments put forward by APM. Tsammani said the petitioners failed to prove their arguments and the petition was void of merits. The judge also upheld preliminary objections raised by all the Respondents to challenge the competence of the petition. Tsammani held that since the petition centered on the qualification or otherwise of Tinubu to contest the presidential election, the APM ought to have gone to court within 14 days after Tinubu was nominated by the APC. He held that since the cause of action bordered on a pre-election matter, the APM lacked the locus standi to challenge Tinubu’s nomination. Tsammani also held that the law did not allow a political party to query the process adopted by another political party in nominating its candidate. The judge also held that invalid nomination or double nomination did not qualify as a ground for disqualification in respect of presidential election as provided in sections 131 and 137 of the Constitution. Details later…

  Wednesday 06 September 2023 Lagos, Katsina, Sokoto workers shun NLC, strike grounds Abuja, states Oshodi bus terminal decaying, motorists, passengers lament I would have fired Wike from PDP if I’d power – Momodu DSS arrests Nasarawa officials, traders for diverting palliatives Guesswork continues as five justices decide Atiku, Obi’s petitions today Subsidy Removal Protest Under Jonathan Was All Politics — Fayemi Passport Backlogs To Be Cleared In Two Weeks, Says Minister Court Sets Aside Kwankwaso’s Suspension From NNPP Gov Polls: INEC Approves PVC Collection For Four Weeks Shaibu Withdraws Suit Against ‘Senior Brother’ Obaseki After Interventions IGP Orders Probe Of Cadet’s Death At Police Academy, Kano Strike: FG, TUC Agree On Two Weeks To Resolve Labour Issues FBN Holdings’ Appeal Stalls Proceedings In Shareholders Suit Strike halts activities in Rivers, Osun, Edo, Kano, Kaduna, Cross River Our founding fathers won independence, failed to build a nation — Jonathan Presidential Poll: Four men, woman who’ll decide Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s fate today Rivers chiefs on the run as cultists list them for killing One killed as task force, truck drivers clash in Mile 2 Akinwumi Adesina: Why Africa’s GDP must be revalued Shettima: Our policies to revive economy are yielding results Tribunal Sacks Kogi Senator, Orders Supplementary Election Subsidy ‘returns’ as FG leverages NNPC to manage market shocks ECCAS suspends Gabon over coup as Zambian president warns putschists Why Nigeria Air, airport concession remain suspended, by Keyamo Presidency brags on Tinubu’s 100 days of ‘steady progress, national rejuvenation’ PENGASSAN threatens to shut services over purchase of Agip assets by Oando Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The Nigerian Navy has arrested three persons planning to use the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s pictures to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. The suspects identified as Oladele Opeyemi Daniel, 23, Eriwole Ogunlana, 24, and Mubarak Mayegun, 24, were accused of planning to use the images to create an impression that their security outfit, Gallantry Intelligence Corps of Nigeria was in partnership with the Nigerian Navy. The Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, in a statement on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested during a patrol in Isolo, Lagos, on September 1, following reports of their fraudulent activities. He added that the suspects were on Tuesday, handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for further investigation. Oguntuga said, “In a significant development to prevent swindling the general public, the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft patrol team apprehended three impostors within the vicinity of Isolo, Lagos State. This operation, conducted on 1 September 2023, was initiated in response to alarming reports of fraudulent individuals featuring the image of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, in printed posters being circulated. The impostors sought to deceive the public into believing that there exists a false collaboration between an illegal security outfit, tagged Gallantry Intelligence Corps of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Navy. “The arrested suspects were identified as Oladele Opeyemi Daniel (23), Eriwole Ogunlana (24) and Mubarak Mayegun (24). The suspects have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti on Tuesday, September 5, for in-depth investigation and prosecution.” He, however, urged Nigerians to be mindful of dishonest elements trying to defraud them of their hard-earned money. “The Nigerian Navy appeals to the public to be cautious of unscrupulous elements, who want to inflict unnecessary hardship by using unpleasant means to lure innocent youths to commit resources for illegitimate employment, ” Oguntuga said.

  Major areas in Owerri, the capital of Imo State experienced total blackout on Tuesday after electricity workers joined the ongoing Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) Strike. Recall that NLC declared two day warning strike last week over the effects of fuel subsidy removal. The major areas in Owerri metropolis which include Orji, MCC road, Works Layout, World Bank experienced total blackout from Tuesday morning, bringing economic activities in the areas to a standstill. ALSO, officials of the banks and insurance companies in the state were seen on Tuesday, September 5, attending to their customers while at the State secretariat, along Owerri-Port Harcourt road, workers were seen moving about within and outside the premises as some were at their duty posts. The Nation did not see any group assembling for protest. It was, however, gathered that several workers did not report to work. Our correspondent who monitored the situation reports that banks on Bank Road, Wethral and Douglas Roads opened for businesses in the state. The NLC chairman in the state, Dr. Phillip Nwansi said: “It is an NLC strike and you know that we are participating.” also, the trade union congress (tuc) counterpart, comrade uchenna great ibe said they have not received a directive from the headquarters in abuja to join any protest. “The national headquarters of TUC has to give us a directive. The only directive in circulation is that of NLC. So we are waiting.” Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the state to ensure the security of lives and properties. According to top security personnel at the command headquarters, Owerri, “we are prepared not only for NLC strike but for every other eventuality that may disrupt peace and orderliness in the state.”

  Electricity workers have joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in its warning strike over the impact of the petrol subsidy removal on the masses. On September 1, the NLC announced plans to embark on a two-day nationwide strike from Tuesday (today), accusing the federal government of abandoning negotiations. The group also said the government has failed to implement some of the resolutions reached at previous meetings. In solidarity with the NLC, electricity distribution companies, earlier on Tuesday, announced that their workers have joined the strike. In a statement signed by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) management, the company said a general power outage was experienced across its franchise. The disruption, the company said, was caused by the enforcement of the two-day warning strike by the labour union. “We apologise for any inconvenience you may be experiencing as a result of this, as we continue our engagement with key stakeholders towards minimising the impact of the strike on our customers,” the statement reads. In the meantime, the company advised customers to take necessary precautions to manage the power outage effectively. “Kindly unplug sensitive electronic devices and appliances from power sources pending the restoration of power,” AEDC said. On its part, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) said it has shut down its feeders due to the strike. In a statement, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, head of corporate communication, said the outages in KEDC’s franchise are due to the warning strike. “We regret to announce that the outage being experienced currently in our franchise states is due to the warning strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress and its affiliate unions,” Abdullahi said. “The action has necessitated the shutting down of all 33KV feeders by the striking workers. “We hope the impasse between the federal government and the NLC shall be resolved soonest so that power supply can be restored. We regret all inconveniences.” The two-day warning strike embarked on by the NLC has recorded partial compliance in some parts of the country on its first day, as banks ignore calls for participation.