The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Monday said it transferred the case of the late lead singer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Osinachi Nwachukwu, to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Osinachi died on April 8 and was said to be a victim of domestic violence.
On April 10, her husband, Peter, was arrested after the younger brother of the late singer reported the matter to the police.
The case was transferred from the Lugbe Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department the following day.
A source told ABN TV that the autopsy report had been released, adding that the police would seek legal advice on the matter.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, on Monday, said the case was no longer with the police.
She said, “The case is no longer with us. It is now with the DPP in the office of the Attorney General.”
A chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Abia State, Sir Chikwe Udensi has taken a swipe at at the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu for choosing to support the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for the presidential ticket of the PDP.
Udensi a governorship aspirant in Abia wondered why Gov. Ikpeazu will decide to abandon all Igbo aspirants for office of the President on the platform of the PDP to support Gov. Wike, a South Southerner.
Speaking on a radio programme, Open Parliament on Love FM Umuahia and ABN TV on Wednesday, the Interpol Systems Consultant noted that Wike has severally demonstrated that he does not like Ndigbo.
Udensi said Wike had in the past openly confessed that he is not Igbo despite that some persons from South South answer Igbo names.
While noting that Wike is not being forced to become Igbo, the APGA chieftain said it is wrong for Igbo to support Wike when it is turn of the South-East to lead the country.
While admitting that Wike has done well in terms of developmental activities in Rivers, the governorship hopeful maintained that 2023 is time for Igbo to lead the country as President.
Sir Udensi further recollected that after the civil war, it’s only in Rivers State that Igbo were denied access to their property while in the North, South West and Middle Belt, no property belonging to Igbo was tampered with.
“After the Civil War, Igbos who were in the North gained back their properties, even in Yoruba land, Lagos and Ibadan, their houses were safe.
“Those who were even in the Middle Belt, Benin nobody’s property was tampered with. It was only in Rivers State that people lost their properties.
“Up till today, they are clamouring. No form of compensation or restitution was offered, we lost our property and Wike continues to adhere to these tenets of stopping our people from accessing their hard earned wealth from our neighbours, Rivers State,” he said.
Udensi further noted that when a presentation was made to Gov. Wike to stop efforts to entirely delete Igbo, especially names of places like Rumuola, Rumuigbo, Rumuibekwe and others from Rivers State, he reacted to it negatively.
While further stating that Gov. Wike kicked against Rivers representation in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Udensi insisted that Wike does not deserve the support of Ndigbo.
He called on Gov. Ikpeazu to withdraw his support for Gov. Wike, stating that prominent Igbo men have indicated interest to lead the country as president who deserve Gov. Ikpeazu’s support.
The legal team of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, said it would explore compelling legal processes to finally lay to rest the remaining 7-count charge still pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the IPOB leader.
The IPOB lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, after the legal team visited Kanu at the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja, on Monday.
Ejiofor said it was part of the interaction they had with Kanu, at the DSS detention centre.
According to Ejiofor, “The routine Court-Ordered visit to our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has just been concluded. We had an incisive review of compelling legal processes we are exploring to ensure that the remaining 7-Count charge still pending is permanently laid to rest.
“Onyendu extends his heartfelt gratitude to all UmuChineke for remaining steadfast and undeterred. He is, as usual, profoundly impressed by your demonstration of uncommon discipline, unity, understanding, loyalty, and forthrightness.
“Onyendu observed that this trying phase is on the verge of extinction and the Name of ChukwuOkike Abiama will be eternally glorified. Onyendu emphasized vigilance, particularly in times like this, and highly commended you all for your peaceful conduct, even in the face of seemingly unprovoked attacks. He encouraged you all to always be on guard, even in your prayers and supplications to the Almighty ChukwuOkike Abiama.”
“Be assured that we, in the legal team, are not leaving any stone unturned towards achieving Onyendu’s freedom, and it will surely end in Praises soon,” Ejiofor said.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday visited the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as some political office holders in the state as the presidential primary of the party, draws nearer.
The visit may not be unconnected to part of the consultation tour being embarked by Osinbajo to the party faithful across the country as the forthcoming presidential primary of the party draws closer.
The vice president, who expressed his readiness to contest the presidential election in 2023, said it would amount to an act of betrayal to the country if he failed to serve Nigeria.
He said, “Opportunity comes once in a while. It is also a privilege to serve. Our country needs service that will bring the country out of the wood.
“Nobody can be anything without the endorsement of God. I declare my intention based on the fact that I have served for over seven months as acting president. I was given very serious responsibility as an acting president.
“Now the opportunity has come, with the experience that I have, the connection and contacts that I have both locally and internationally, it will be a betrayal to the country not to accept to serve the country. Many people are dying for the country every day. If with all that has been given to me by the grace of God, all experience, I now retire to Lagos or Ikene to go and be writing my memoir, it would be a great injustice to this country.”
In his remarks, Akeredolu said the delegates from the state love and respect him but said it is God that enthrones.
“It is only God that can enthrone, if God says it is you (Osinbajo), it will be you,” Akeredolu declared
The Northern Elders Forum has said contrary to the Presidency’s assertion, the delayed delivery of military equipment from the United States to Nigeria was not caused by the Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah.
The elders said rather than blame a clergyman for military setbacks, President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime should upgrade the military’s operations to a standard that satisfies globally accepted norms.
The Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said this on Monday, reiterating the Forum’s call for Buhari’s resignation.
Responding to a statement on Sunday in which the Presidency blamed Kukah for selling a false image about the country’s interreligious relations leading to a delayed supply of fighter jets, Baba-Ahmed said the regime must learn to handle criticism.
In Sunday’s statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency noted “The US administration of the time concurred: the delivery of such jets would help deliver a critical turning point in Nigeria’s struggle against jihadist terrorists across the Sahel.
“Yet two years later, that jet delivery was rescinded, the reasons are given that unless Nigeria improved its religious relations between Christianity and Islam then US support would not be forthcoming in this, and many other areas.
“Such views were compounded by the constant lobbying of US Congress by the opponents of the Nigerian government who had lost the previous election, and many of their southern religious supporters – including Bishop Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Diocese of Sokoto, who, unsurprising, provides a supportive quote for the dustcover of the new edition of Campbell’s book. (Kukah even took to addressing the US Congress himself, briefing his audience on the history of coups in Nigeria – without, of course, mentioning that none had occurred since 1993, some 29 years ago).”
But speaking on Monday, the NEF’s spokesperson said Kukah’s arguments on the government’s failure to tackle insecurity are right.
He argued that the delayed procurement of weapons was due to the conduct of the armed forces and related agencies on human rights issues.
Baba-Ahmed said, “You know, the presidency spokespersons have a way of deflecting criticism by making it personal. When you say that there is a shortfall in the quality of government, they find something to stick you with.
“People like Bishop Kukah and I, are used to this. We don’t take it seriously. This organisation should be criticised and must be criticised, and those who are ready to do so should be willing to take some of the words that Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina recycle every once in a while when we point out certain facts about the failings of President in terms of securing the country.
“But the truth is, maybe they know this, maybe they don’t know, Nigerian Government has problems procuring weaponry from Western countries, because these countries, in most cases, have standards regarding conduct by their armed forces and related agencies, in terms of dealing on human rights issues, dealing with prisoners of war, dealing with populations caught up in conflicts.
“Everybody knows this. They will not sell you one bullet unless they are satisfied that you’ve met certain criteria. And they have raised issues over and over again. The Nigerian government knows this. But they need to improve the conduct of the Nigerian military, in the fight against the insurgency, against terrorists.”
Harping on an earlier call by the forum for Buhari to resign over the spate of insecurity in the country, he said, “We must not go to the 2023 elections with the current state of insecurity.
“We should raise our voices and demand that the people we voted into office, the President, the National Assembly, governors, must do better. We can’t live like rats hiding in holes and running away every year from criminals.
“We just can’t. We’re tired. If they can’t run the country safely, there is an option. There is a provision in the constitution for stepping down if you can’t perform the most basic function available to you, which is to protect and secure citizens. That’s what we’re saying but a few people thought that’s extreme. But it is a statement of fact.”
Twitter said Monday it has agreed to sell itself to Elon Musk, who will take the company private in a deal valued at around $44 billion.
The deal caps off a whirlwind news cycle in which the Tesla and SpaceX CEO became one of Twitter’s largest shareholders, was offered and turned down a seat on its board and bid to buy the company — all in less than a month.
Under the terms of the deal, shareholders will receive $54.20 in cash for each share of Twitter stock they own, matching Musk’s original offer and marking a 38% premium over the stock price the day before Musk revealed his stake in the company.
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a statement Monday. “Twitter has tremendous potential — I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it.”
The deal, which was unanimously approved by Twitter’s board, is expected to close this year.
The deal comes after Musk revealed last week he had lined up $46.5 billion in financing to acquire the company, an apparent turning point that forced Twitter’s board to seriously consider the deal. The board met Sunday to evaluate Musk’s offer.
“The Twitter Board conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive process to assess Elon’s proposal with a deliberate focus on value, certainty, and financing,” Twitter independent board chair Bret Taylor said in a statement, calling the deal ” the best path forward for Twitter’s stockholders.”
Twitter stock was up nearly 6% following the announcement of the deal, hovering around $51.84, just shy of the offer price.
If approved by shareholders and regulators, the deal will put the world’s richest man in charge of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms. Musk has repeatedly stressed in recent days that his goal is to bolster free speech on the platform and work to “unlock” Twitter’s “extraordinary potential.”
Musk added in his Monday statement that he wants to “make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans.” Separately, he said in a tweet Monday that he hopes “even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said in Monday’s statement that “Twitter has a purpose and relevance that impacts the entire world,” He added: “Deeply proud of our teams and inspired by the work that has never been more important.”
It’s not clear whether Agrawal will remain in the top job following the takeover. Musk previously tweeted a meme comparing Agrawal to former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Musk also said in his offer letter to buy Twitter that he does not “have confidence in management.”
In the days since Musk’s initial bid, many following the company wondered whether Twitter would try to find another buyer, especially after the company put in place a poison pill to make it more difficult for Musk to acquire the company without its approval.
But CFRA senior equity analyst Angelo Zino said Monday that Twitter’s board more seriously considering Musk’s offer may have come “from the Board’s realization that an alternative bid from a ‘white knight’ may be difficult to come by, especially following the decline in asset prices from social media companies in recent weeks/months.”
A Japanese woman certified the world’s oldest person has died at the age of 119, local officials said Monday.
Kane Tanaka was born on January 2, 1903, in the southwestern Fukuoka region of Japan, the same year the Wright brothers flew for the first time and Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
Tanaka was in relatively good health until recently and lived at a nursing home, where she enjoyed board games, solving maths problems, soda, and chocolate.
In her younger years, Tanaka ran various businesses including a noodle shop and a rice cake store. She married Hideo Tanaka a century ago in 1922, giving birth to four children and adopting a fifth.
This picture taken on March 9, 2019, and received by Jiji Press on April 25, 2022, shows the world’s oldest person, Japanese woman Kane Tanaka who was born on January 2, 1903 and died at the age of 119 on April 19, 2022. STR / JIJI PRESS / AFP
She had planned to use a wheelchair to take part in the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but the pandemic prevented her from doing so.
When the Guinness World Records recognised her as the oldest person alive in 2019, she was asked what moment she was the most happy in life. Her answer: “Now.”
Her daily routine was described at the time as including a 6:00 am wake-up, and afternoons spent studying mathematics and practising calligraphy.
“One of Kane’s favourite pastimes is a game of Othello and she’s become an expert at the classic board game, often beating rest-home staff,” Guinness said.
Local governor Seitaro Hattori hailed Tanaka’s life after she passed away on April 19.
“I was looking forward to seeing Kane-san on this year’s Respect for the Aged Day (a national holiday in September) and celebrating together with her favorite soda and chocolate,” he said in a statement on Monday.
“I am extremely saddened by the news.”
Japan has the world’s most elderly population, according to World Bank data, with around 28 percent aged 65 or over.
The oldest-ever living person verified by Guinness was Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment, who died aged 122 years and 164 days in 1997.
Famous Hausa singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, known for his numerous songs in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari and other key northern politicians, spoke against what he perceived as the shortcoming of the current administration in a new song.
In the song, he led a group of other prominent Hausa singers under the 13-13 Kannywood.
The development generated a debate on whether the diehard supporter of Buhari is no longer with him.
The news of the new song went viral when his spokesperson, Rabi’u Garba Gaya, posted it on his Facebook page.
Early last year, the Buhari singer had begun a movement asking Nigerians to sponsor his next album (harp-song) with a token of N1000 each.
The singer said he wanted the public to sponsor a song that will highlight the achievement of the Buhari-led administration.
Ever since he made that announcement public, fans have been waiting for the release of the song as it was reported that millions of Naira was realized.
But some people condemned the singer’s demand, describing it as fraudulent while others swore that he will not realize much to sponsor the intended song.
Ironically, the singer’s fans were astonished when instead of a praise song for Buhari, the singer sang against insecurity.
According to those in the know, in the song, Buhari was criticised for “failing” in his promise to protect lives and property.
A stanza in the songs goes like this, “Only few people now reason with you, insecurity has been on the increase both in cities and villages. What started as a hear-say has become reality. Our wish is to see that we have put things back on track,”
Those who featured in the songs are Aminu Ladan Ala, Nura M Inuwa, Ali Isa Jita, among other prominent Hausa singers.
Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said he is determined to facilitate no fewer than 100 roads across the Senatorial district before the end of 2022.
ABN TV reports that this comes as the Senate Chief Whip insists that his target is to leave his people happier than he met them in 2019 as their representative in the Senate, stating that he has so far facilitated 60 rural roads.
He spoke on Sunday in a chat with leaders of Umunneochi local government area of the state who came to pay him a thank you visit at his Igbere home.
He used the opportunity to announce the construction of nine additional rural road projects for Umunneochi council area.
According to the former Abia governor, his desire is to facilitate people-oriented projects to the district in the areas of education, health and other key infrastructural development.
He said, “In 2022, we facilitated the construction of 1km Ogwumabiri road, construction of 1km rural road, Umuaku, construction of 1km rural road, Aroikpa, provision and installation of solar street lights in selected communities in Umunneochi LGA, construction of 1km rural road, Lekwesi, construction of 1km rural road, Ubahu, construction of 1km rural road, Amauba Obulo, construction of 1km rural road, Umueze to Umudim and construction of 1km Obilorji road.”
An Abia Central Senatorial aspirant from Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Chukwu Nwachukwu Sunday, flayed the alleged anointing of an Ikwuano aspirant for the same position ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Addressing members of Ohamazuo Social Club of Nigeria at Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North LGA during their National Convention and launching of their multi-purpose Cooperative Society, the state Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Nwachukwu said that going by the rotation arrangement in Abia Central between Umunneato (Isiala Ngwa North, South and Osisioma) and Umuahia, and being currently occupied by Umuahia North, the senatorial seat should go to Umunneato.
He said, “In Abia Central, we have a protocol arrangement and nobody has zoned it out to Ikwuano. You cannot hand over from Umuahia North to Ikwuano. It is, therefore, normal to hand it over to an Umunneato person.
“I don’t need anyone to anoint me for senate. If the party says no, shun them. It is our right and I am capable of holding power.”
He urged members of the club who are mostly PDP delegates, “Vote for yourselves, your family and for empowerment”, assuring them that if voted in, the constituency will not be left out of federal empowerment programmes.
He enjoined them to be steadfast with their cooperative society as it is the way forward all over the world.
Nwachukwu, who is the National President of the Association of Agricultural and Industrial Entrepreneurs of Nigeria, urged the club to join cooperatives to enable them to reap the benefit of registered cooperatives in Nigeria.
Earlier in his address, the National President of Ohamauzo Social Club, Chamberlain Onyenowe, disclosed that the aim of the club is “to unite our people, fight for a common course, give absolute support to PDP and positively change some narratives”.
He further stated that in the area, the club also ensures a crime-free society.
His deputy and founder of the club, Donatus Orji, said the idea of the club came to him after seeing the suffering of the people about two years ago.
