The Director ABN TV, a leading online medium in Nigeria, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali has congratulated the former Assistant Director of Department of State Services, DSS Chief Raymond Nkemdirim at the occasion of his birthday, saying he has remained an asset to the country.
Ifeanyi Okali With Ray Nkemdirim
Mr. Okali hailed the former Director of Operations of the secret police for using his youthful age to serve the country meritoriously where he made immense contributions in making the society more habitable for all by leading several operations that dealt insecurity a bloody nose.
In a felicitations message on Monday, Mr. Okali said Chief Nkemdirim, the CEO of FLO FM Umuahia is a good ambassador of Abia who has excelled and rose to the peak of his career and retired with his integrity unstained.
Okali also said even as a retiree, Chief Nkemdirim has continued to make meaningful contributions in shaping the future of young ones through educational employment, scholarship opportunities, and inter-school debate competitions.
According to him, even as the owner of one of the leading independent broadcasting organizations, Flo FM, Chief Nkemdirim has made a tremendous success by giving the people a voice.
He prayed God to grant the celebrant many more years of good health and more wisdom to serve his fatherland at higher authorities.
As the nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU continues, the umbrella body of students in the country, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has asked Ebonyi state governor, Chief Dave Umahi to remain focused despite a court judgement sacking him and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe as well as 15 lawmakers in the state.
David Umahi
Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided by Inyang Ekwo had Mr Umahi, his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 15 lawmakers in the state over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
NANS in a statement signed by its Senate President, Comrade Chuks Innocent Okafor described the judgement as strange to law and legal precedence stressing that the development and administrative acumen brought in the state by Governor Umahi cannot be whisked away through what it termed judicial arm-twisting.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), particularly the office of the President of Senate of NANS, has followed the events of the past few days bordering on a strange order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo with mixed feelings. Let us expressly state that as much as we do not agree with that order, we give all respect to the Nigerian Judiciary and the learned judge.
“At first, our feeling was that of unbelief, because we could not believe that such an order could be made in the circumstances of the available law and legal precedence.
“Secondly, we were amused that anyone could contemplate the removal of a Governor and his Deputy and replacing them with persons unknown to the electorate and electoral processes leading to the 2019 gubernatorial election in Ebonyi State. As it continued, we became worried that Ebonyians and indeed, Nigerians were being misinformed about the entire matter. Seriously, we became very worried that one of the unarguably best leaders in contemporary Nigerian, nay, African history is being distracted and this is where NANS became disappointed about the entire vexed issue.
“As an organization, NANS has followed up with the administration of Gov. Dave Umahi in Ebonyi State, and like all other responsible organizations or persons, can testify to his Midas touch on Ebonyi State, for which we strongly believe that his leadership dexterity and developmental genius is needed at the Centre in Abuja.
“While many Governors are trying to find their feet, His Excellency has turned Ebonyi from a rural State into a megacity with supersonic infrastructure. For NANS, that is not the kind of a leader to be distracted with judicial abracadabra. In any case, whatever is the true position of the law will eventually be sorted out by the very capable Nigerian Judiciary. So we will not dabble into that.
“We are only very sure that by our laws as have been variously interpreted to us, Gov. Umahi is irremovable, except by the conditions provided in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which are: death, resignation or incapacitation.
“We, therefore, have come to the indisputable conclusion that all this is orchestrated to distract the high-performance Governor. We suspect that it is because of his unassailable political profile, especially in relation to the 2023 Presidency that enemies of Nigeria have contrived this present distraction.
“Consequently, we urge him not to be distracted. The Nigerian Students who are firsthand witnesses to his leadership ingenuity are with him just like the majority of Ebonyians. We shall continue to stand by him. We support his aspirations because they are right and righteous. We hope to continue to succeed with him.
“Also, we urge Ebonyians, especially the student community to be calm, focused and continue to support our father and leader as he scales the unusual heights. This is not time to panic or join issues with detractors. It is time for organised action. Let our eyes be on the ball as we help our leader keep vigil”, the statement added
The Minister of Power Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu is holding an emergency meeting with all the stakeholders in the power sector to address the current low power generation which has caused epileptic power supply across the country. The minister warns that stakeholders must work together to make electricity more stable.
The meeting held at the Conference Hall of the ministry has in attendance a delegation from the Power Generation Companies, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) NNPC, Shell and other stakeholders in the power value chain.
In his opening remarks, minister Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu said; “This meeting was summoned to address the current electricity situation in the country which we see not happy about. We must find a solution so that Nigerians will have electricity. I want us to have the patience to talk to each other, not blaming each other.
Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu maintains that the Nigerian government will not relent in its effort to make sure that improvements in the power sector are sustained and built upon so that electricity supply improves across Nigeria. He added that current challenges must be addressed.
The meeting, according to the minister, will find solutions that will ensure prompt resolution of all the problems affecting power generation right now in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has fulfilled its promise of allocating Houses in the preferred state of choice to winners of the 1994 African Cup of Nations, saying it is better late than never.
This was stated today by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the official commissioning of the Housing Project under the National Housing Programme (NHP) Phase 1 on Monday in Abere, Osun State.
The President who was represented the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated that the motive of the Federal Government was beyond improving the human condition of living through the housing projects, but it also provide an opportunity to fulfil its pledge it her citizens.
“But there is more to our message of change and improving the human condition in these housing projects. They make possible, that which had seemed impossible. It provides an opportunity to remember our heroes, the valiant Super Eagles, to whom our country made a promise of providing housing for winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations, which has remained unfulfilled before now.
“On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is a great honour for me to redeem the promise Nigeria made to these patriotic Nigerians, even if belatedly. Anyone of them can pick houses from any of the 36 states, I invite you to pick from that which is being commissioned today. We had Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde amongst other superstars from our state.
“As the saying goes, it is better late than never and I have approved allocation to redeem the outstanding allocation to 22 members of the Super Eagles in National Housing Estate located in their state of choice, and their keys and title documents will be handed over at the commissioning in their state while the remainder of the housing is allocated to willing members of the public,” the President stated.
President Buhari stated that his administration was committed to improving the conditions of the mass of the Nigerian people with her programmes and policies.
“The Micro, Small, and Medium-size businesses that drive our economy were the ones who won the contracts to build these houses. Not only did their successful bids offer an opportunity for these companies and their employees, through them, but we have also unleashed a value chain of economic activities that improved the conditions of the mass of Nigerian people.
“They engaged suppliers who benefit from sub-contracts for the supply of building materials from sand to cement, roofing and plumbing material to doors and electrical fitting. In the process, Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid such as artisans, builders, skilled and unskilled workers, and food vendors were not left out of this economic value chain.
“These are some of the people our country remains committed to move towards prosperity and away from poverty and we are already reaching them by providing opportunities for employment for those who were hitherto unemployed,” the President stated.
In his welcome address, the Zonal Director (South West) National Housing Programme, Dr. M.K. Muhammed, noted that the land the project was built on was donated by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola when he was governor in the state.“The project is a testament to the popular saying that ‘what goes around, comes around’, the land for this project if you recall representative of the Minister sir, the land for this project was awarded by you when you were governor in this Osun State. Today, you are here commissioning the project.
“The National Housing Project is promoting local content in line with the Executive Orders 3 and 5. The use of available local building materials in the National Housing a programme (NHP) has stimulated the economy through the production and use of the materials,” the zonal coordinator stated.
The project commissioned today consist of 72-units of Housing comprising, 24-units in a condominium (1 bedroom-4, 2bedroom-16, 3 bedroom-4), 28-units 2 (Two) Bedroom, and 20-units 3 (Three) Bedroom bungalows.
Also at the event were the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, represented by the Director of Urban and Regional Development of the Federal Ministry of Works and House, Mr. Moyoade Olasunkanmi Dumoye; the Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa1; Zonal Director (South West) NHP, Dr. M.K. Muhammed amongst other dignitaries.
A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State on Monday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to pay the sum of N3.5m to journalist, Norah Okafor for illegally invading her privacy in the dead of the night on 23rd September, 2021.
Nora And EFCC
The court presided over by Justice Thomas C Johnson also ordered the anti-graft agency to tender apology in two national dailies to the victim.
ABN TV reports that operatives of the EFCC had on 23rd September, 2021 invaded the journalist’s home in Umuahia, destroying peremeter fencing, doors and other personal belongings.
The officials were said to be on a sting operation in search of suspected internet fraudsters but in a wrong address.
Okafor told the court that she was traumatized and humiliated by the incident.
A lady, identified as wife of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, on Monday, fainted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
She slumped on the ground shortly after trial Justice Emeka Nwite deferred ruling on applications that DCP Kyari and six other persons facing drug trafficking charge with him, filed to be released on bail pending the determination of the case against them.
The middle aged woman, who wore a black Hijab, fell on the floor while armed operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, were leading Kyari and the others away from the court premises.
Though she appeared lifeless on the floor, she was quickly carried up and rushed inside one of the offices on the third floor of the court by some officials of the NDLEA and lawyers.
As at the time of filing this report, 11.07am, efforts were on to secure an inhaler for her, even as one of the women that accompanied her to the court, hinted that she was asthmatic.
The NDLEA had on Monday, urged the court to deny Kyari and all the other Defendants bail.
It told the court that Kyari, who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, would excape from the country and make himself unavailable for trial, should he be released from custody.
Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Andrew Aikhoumogbe has expressed utmost confidence in the list of players invited by the interim coach of the Super Eagles, Austine Eguavoen to take the Black Stars to the cleaners in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff.
Recall that the Black Stars will host Nigeria on March 25 before the reverse fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on March 29, with the winners securing a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Speaking ahead of the game, Aikhoumogbe in a chat with Completesports.com from his Cairo base in Egypt, stated that the Super Eagles will approach the game like a cup final. knowing there is no other option than to win.
“This is a game the Super Eagles know they must have to prove a point and take something valuable to Nigeria if they are to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
“Yes, I agree that the game won’t be an easy one for Nigeria, however, I have so much confidence that the Super Eagles will take their Ghanaian counterpart to the cleaner regardless of where the game will be played.
“It’s Eagles all the way and I believe victory shall be achieved at the end.”
Nigeria is seeking to qualify for the World Cup a seventh time and, since 1994, have missed only one of seven editions. The last of three appearances by Ghana was in 2014.
Super Eagles interim technical adviser Augustine Eguavoen claimed he already knows his starting line-up for the crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff against the Black Stars of Ghana.
The two West African giants will clash in a two-legged playoff later this month.
The overall winner will proceed to the World Cup in Qatar.
“We have the 11 that will start,” Eguavoen told Elegbete TV.
“We don’t need distractions, all we need is support to cross this hurdle.”
Eguavoen also defended the inclusion of midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo on his squad even though he has only returned from a long-term injury.
“Etebo I have worked with closely, Bonke I haven’t and I have had no chance to go to France to watch him play,” the former defender explained.
“I have watched Etebo closely, I’ve watched him closely when he played in the U23s and when he played for the former coach Gernot Rohr in the Super Eagles.
“Etebo coming in now does not say he would be in the starting line-up.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Monday, urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to deny the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, bail.
Abba Kyari
The agency, in a 21-paragraph counter-affidavit it lodged before the court, insisted that Kyari posed a flight risk.
It told the court that Kyari, who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, would excape from the country and make himself unavailable for trial, should he be released from custody.
While adopting the counter-affidavit before trial Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday, the NDLEA, through its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, equally maintained that the former IRT boss has the capacity to interfere with its witnesses.
The Prosecution counsel told the court that bundles of exhibits marked NDLEA 1 to 5, where attached to the counter-affidavit.
However, Kyari, in his bail application that was moved by Mr. Mahmud Magaji, SAN, prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal conditions.
Arguing that the charge against him contained bailable offences, the embattled DCP, urged the court to invoke the powers donated to it by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to exercise discretion in his favour.
The bail application was anchored on Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Section 164 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
The Defendant, who earlier beefed up his legal team with four SANs led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, SAN, argued that the Constitution provided that he must be accorded every facility to adequately prepare for his defence.
Meanwhile, while the 2nd, 4th and 5th Defendants, through their respective lawyers, also prayed the court to release them on bail, pending the determination of the case against them, the 3rd Defendant, applied for time to respond to a counter-affidavit the NDLEA filed in opposition to his bail request.
The NDLEA equally urged the court to deny all the Defendants bail and rather okay accelerated hearing of the case.
The other Defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, were four former members of the Police IRT, ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
It will be recalled that Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who were cited as the 6th and 7th Defendants in the charge, had on March 7, when they were arraigned alongside DCP Kyari, pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking charge against them.
Following an application by the NDLEA, trial Justice Nwite, slated March 28 to review the facts of the case so as to sentence the two Defendants, accordingly.
Kyari’s lead counsel, Agabi, SAN, had contended that it would be prejudicial to his client for facts of the case to be reviewed and decision reached on it, while the trial is still subsisting.
He made reference to cases where Defendants, out of ignorance, pleaded guilty to a charge against them.
“It is not in the interest of justice for the facts to be reviewed while the trial is still ongoing”, he argued.
More so, Agabi, SAN, noted that both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were also mentioned in some counts in the charge that involved Kyari and the other accused police officers.
Before the court adjourned the matter till March 28, the NDLEA, said it was no longer willing to retain the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants in its custody due to their “unruly behavior”.
It told the court that the Defendants were “causing a lot of disturbances”.
“We can take the others in our custody except these three Defendants.
“But if they undertake to be of good behaviour, we have no problem, we can take them”, NDLEA’s lawyer added.
Consequently, lawyers to the three Defendants, took turns to enter an undertaking before the court, pledging that their clients would be of good behaviour “from now onwards”.
Justice Nwite said he would order the transfer of the three Defendants to a Correctional Center, should the court receive any further report of their unruly behavior.
The NDLEA had in the charge, accused DCP Kyari who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, and the other four officers of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.
It alleged that Kyari and his men unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of cocaine that were seized from the two apprehended drug traffickers, Umeibe and Ezenwanne.
The police officers were said to have committed the offence between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), contrary to section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Kyari was said to have attempted to bribe a senior officer of the NDLEA with $61, 400. 00 at a restaurant in Abuja to prevent the testing of part of the cocaine that was seized from the two arrested drug pushers.
On the other hand, the agency alleged that the duo of Umeibe and Ezenwanne, conspired with one IK that is currently at large, to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country without lawful authority and knowingly possessed same, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Some of the charges against them, read; “That you, DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, Adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dealt in 17.55kilogrammes of cocaine without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, all male, Adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, within the office of the Inspector-General of (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves and with ASP John Umoru (now at large) to unlawfully tamper with 21.35 kilogramames of cocaine seized from Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwannne in the custody of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), by removing and disposing 17.55 kilogrammes of the cocaine and by substituting same with some other substance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
“That you DCP Abba Kyari, on or about 25th January 2022, at a restaurant on Port Harcourt Crescent, Area 11, Garki Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court, attempted to obstruct the Agency and its authorised officers in the exercise of their duties by offering the sum of $61,400.00 USD (sixty-one thousand, four hundred United States of America Dollars) to a senior officer of the Agency as inducement to prevent the testing of the 17.55kilogrammes of substance used to replace the cocaine seized from Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 23 and punishable under section 49 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Tuesday that further restricts entry to the United States for nationals from countries deemed high-risk due to...
