Tragedy has struck in Ogbotobo community in Ekeremor Local Government Area as a 15-year-old boy name withheld killed his uncle while playing with his grandfather’s gun. According to sources, the boy who is fond of playing with his grandfather’s gun, recreating scenes in movies where an actor or actress with gun orders others not to move had pulled the trigger on his uncle unaware that it was loaded. Sources stated that the grandfather, Mr Jamaica Konbofawei had on March 6 loaded the gun around 3 am when he heard unusual movements from bush animals around their fishing camp. However, his efforts did not yield any fruit as the animals escaped before he could kill any of them even when he tried to chase them. On his return home, the sources said Konbofawei forgot to remove the cartridge from the gun and kept it where he normal keeps the gun. On Thursday morning, the boy in question picked the gun and pointed it at his uncle, who warned him dropped it while he prepares food. However, the boy while fiddling with the gun pointed at his uncle pulled the triggered, killing the latter instantly. The loud bang attracted people to the area where they found the boy crying over the body of his late uncle. A family source who confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Police said the family is in a dilemma because the boy in question is a teenager who cannot be allowed to go to jail for his action. Credit: TheSun 

  A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Kubwa has struck out the N1 billion suit instituted against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation. Malami was sued in his official and personal capacities alongside Asabe Waziri, civil servant and founder of Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative. At the court session on Thursday, Oluyemisi Adelaja, presiding judge, struck out the case for lack of diligent prosecution. “The claimant is the one who filed the action and is required to be seen diligently prosecuting same but they are not in court and there is no reason for their absence before the court,” the judge held. “They have, therefore, been absent without reason and consequent upon Order 32 Rule 4, this case is ordered struck out for want of diligent prosecution.” The case was instituted by Cecil Osakwe, a property developer. In the suit, Osakwe accused Malami of using his office to arm-twist him into handing out two units of three-bedroom flats situated in the Maitama area of Abuja, to Waziri. The property developer added that the former AGF allegedly coerced him to hand over the property worth about N130 million to Waziri despite a subsisting court order. According to Osakwe, Malami allegedly intervened in a civil dispute between his firm and Waziri. He also alleged that Malami was behind his continuous harassment by security operatives. He said the former minister was aware that Waziri initially moved into the said property and stayed for over eight months before she was vacated from it by a court order that terminated the transaction. Meanwhile, Osakwe is facing a two-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/244/2022, filed against him by the federal government over allegation of advance fee fraud to the tune of N130 million. The suit also alleged criminal intimidation of Waziri, and that Osakwe had threatened Waziri with injury to her person and reputation, with intent to cause her harm and even death.

  There was pandemonium in Kuriga town of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State when bandits invaded LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), and abducted dozens of pupils. The number of persons abducted couldn’t be ascertained as of press time, but residents said they were about 100. Stunned by thousands of storks flying over the sky in Gia Viễn dike, Ninh Bình – Nếm TV Head teacher of the school and some other staff are reportedly among the victims. Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened at 8:20am immediately after the assembly on Thursday. The junior and secondary school relocated to the school building inside the Kuriga town a few years ago due to insecurity concerns, abandoning their former school building located outside the town. A resident, Shitu, confirmed the incident, saying most of the pupils ran out of their classes when they sighted the bandits on the school premises. Another resident, Lawal Kuriga, also told Daily Trust that abducted victims were marched into the forest. As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the state government as the Overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, didn’t react to a text message sent to him. The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, couldn’t be reached on the phone and is yet to reply to a text message sent to him too.

  The Night of Tributes for the late Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, continued in Lagos yesterday, with the leader of the Tijjaniyya movement and 14th Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, captains of industry and political bigwigs paying tributes to the deceased. Emir Sanusi broke down thrice while paying tribute to Herbert Wigwe. Each time he broke down, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Aig-Imoukhuede and an aide comforted him. The aide had to spread his babanriga to shield his teary face from the audience. Recall that Herbert Wigwe died in a helicopter crash, along with his wife, Doreen, son, Chizzy and former Managing Director of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the US. Aside from Emir Sanusi, other personalities, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, also paid tributes to the deceased. Also in attendance were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group, Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Group, Henry Imasekha, Chairman/CEO – Berkeley Group Plc, among other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, teary Sanusi said that due to Herbert’s kind gestures towards him and his family, some people believed he owned Access Bank, while Aig- Imoukhuede, and Herbert were fronting for him. He said: “It was on a Saturday, I had no idea about what happened. I came to the airport waiting for a plane and I got a call from Bola Adeshola, and we were chatting. After two sentences, he said, Lamido you haven’t heard? “About two years ago, I put all my savings into a Trust for the education of my children, I have many and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have good education. I told Herbert ‘I am placing you in charge of this Trust for the education of my children because I know that even if I die and did not leave any money, you will educate my children. “I thought I would die before Herbert.” After that, he burst into tears. “When I had problems in Kano, I called him about six months before I was to leave Kano, and I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And he said to me ‘your highness, don’t worry, whatever happens, don’t worry we are here for you.’ “On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, the night before it happened, I called and said I want to come to Lagos. The announcement was made at about 9am, by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phne call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months. When I came we stayed there. “Some people believe I own access bank and Aig and Herbert are fronting for me. They gave me the cars and the drivers, they gave me security and a private jet and they ask for nothing and they don’t talk about it. I have lived in Lagos for four years, the house my family lives in was provided by Herbert. “When I heard of his death, I said ‘in the coming weeks and months, people will get to know Herbert the human being’. They know him as a banker, as a business man, they don’t know him as a human being. He was always about others, not about himself. You can’t imagne how one human being could have been so many things to so many people. “On the day before this happened, I was on a chat group when somebopdy made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear that this was totally unacceptable. “A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He has sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him. ‘’Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. He sent another message at 3:50 which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him.

  The Nigeria Labour Congress has demanded N794,000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in the South West geopolitical political zone. The labour union in the South West, through the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, made the demand during her presentation at the ongoing public hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday. Sessi noted that the demand was jointly agreed on by all the members of the union in the South West . President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja on January 30, 2024. Details later…

  Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that no sacrifice is too big for him to pay for the success of the state. He added that he could give up his position to bring peace to Rivers State. The governor stated this in an interview with AIT on Thursday. Fubara further stated that there are things he could have done that would have resulted in a “total crisis”. However, his ability to restrain even when he has the power is maturity. During the interview, Fubara said, “No sacrifice will be too big for me to pay for the success of this administration. “And the reason is very simple, it’s not political love, it’s not because I want to gain any favour from anybody, my interest and love for our dear state is genuine. I’m not trying to say I want to be one man who will be there to decide the fate of all but let Rivers State remain. “My burden was not the issue of all the drama, it’s the millions of Rivers people who had made sacrifices and it looks as if their hopes are being dashed. They were the ones I was worried about. What will be their fate? It’s not about me. “If leaving this position is what I need or what is needed to bring more peace to the state, I can even tell you people to come and take it. It’s not about me. People should understand that definitely I will go but Rivers State will still remain. “I am the governor, no matter what it is, there are things I could have done and there would have been a total crisis. But your ability to restrain in the face of crisis even when you have the power to do things is maturity.” PUNCH reports that Fubara has been having a running battle with the camp of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Earlier in January, Fubara declared himself as the winner of the crisis rocking the state. He said those behind the crisis wanted him out of office but since he is still in charge. He also stated that he would not fold his arms and watch anyone or any group of people trying to sabotage his government.