A 62-year-old old man, Linus Onyewuchi Anyanwu has reportedly died in the custody of police in Imo state after he was detained along with his daughter, Eberechi Anyanwu 21 who is now cooling off in Suleja medium prison.
ABN TV reports that a man who gave his name as Theodore Chinonso Uba aka NonsoNkwa of Ozisa 96.1 FM Owerri Imo State in a social media post had alleged that Mr. Anyanwu and his daughter were arrested since 17th of May 2021 at Emii Owerri North LGA, Imo State by the men of Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Imo state police command.
Linus Onyewuchi AnyanwuEberechi Anyanwu
According to him, the police had denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the father and daughter.
After so much pressure, the police were said to have allowed the family to visit the 21-year-old Eberechi but the father was not seen.
He said, “At first, the police denied that father and daughter are not in their custody but when we exposed them, they gave in which prompted the family to visit the police station and saw the 21yr old Melody without seeing the father.
“The lawyer and the only son of the man have been on this case for the past 4 months now, yet the police refused to either charge them to a court or release them..
“Just this morning, Melody called her brother that she is currently in Prison in far away Suleja Niger state and that their dad died in police custody at the Imo state police command and the body deposited at FMC mortuary Owerri…
“Now the family is shattered!!!
“I beckon on all well-meaning Imolites and Nigerians especially human rights groups to assist in the release of this young lady before she is finally destroyed mentally and physically.”
Barely one week after returning from 76 session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA in New York, United States, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel to Addis Ababa on Monday for the second term inauguration of the Ethiopian Prime Minister.
This was disclosed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Saturday in Abuja.
The President, who will depart Abuja for the Ethiopian capital on Sunday, is scheduled to deliver a goodwill message at the inauguration ceremony.
After that, he will attend a State Banquet in honour of visiting Heads of State and Government.
Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Prime Minister Ahmed secured another term in office following the victory of Ethiopia’s governing Prosperity Party in the parliamentary election on June 21.
In his congratulatory message to the Prime Minister, Buhari had assured that Nigeria will continue to support the unity and territorial well-being of Ethiopia and all African States.
‘‘On behalf of the Nigerian people, I send you and the people of Ethiopia our well wishes for your courage and commitment to the democratic process and urge you to continue with the good policies of your government that endeared you to the people,’’ the President said.
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have invaded the Council headquarters of Damboa in Borno State, shooting heavily as they engaged Nigerian security forces.
The insurgents reportedly stormed the community at about 5:30 pm. Many people were feared dead and several others injured (including the terrorists). Properties were also said to have been set ablaze.
The District Head of Damboa, Zanna Lawan Maina confirmed the invasion, but maintained that he could not give full details yet, because the only telecommunication service (Airtel) available was not clear enough for accessing communication with residents. ABN TV scooped that terrified civilians fled towards Sambisa forest area.
“Yes some armed Boko Haram terrorists invaded Damboa this evening, I am not in the town as I am away for an official engagement.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get access to the only existing telecommunication service provided by Airtel to ascertain the condition as of the time of the incident,”Vanguard quotes Maina as saying.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Georgewill Owunari will on 2nd November deliver a keynote address at the 2021 IgbereTV Leadership Excellence Awards.
This was made known in a press release on Saturday in Abuja by the Executive Director of Igbere TV and secretary of the event’s Organising Committee, Emeh James Anyalekwa.
Anyalekwa said the erudite professor, who has confirmed his attendance, will speak on Leadership and Excellence in Nigeria.
The prestigious Leadership Excellence awards, organized by IgbereTV and endorsed by African Union, African Film Institute, is Africa’s No1 Online Media Awards.
The 2021 edition, the third in a row, is scheduled to hold on 2nd November, 2021 at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, and Towers Abuja.
The event will witness glitz and glamour as array of reputable persons in the political and corporate Nigeria will attend.
Igbere TV Awards recognises and honours the outstanding impacts of leaders across both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.
It promotes outstanding leaders and personalities whose impacts have been felt in Nigeria’s political, social and economic spheres.
The Award also applauds excellence, achievements, performance, humanitarian activities, and philanthropic gestures.
A former national chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has tasked the Federal Government to pursue a political solution to resolve the secessionist agitations by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and that of the Yoruba Nation, Sunday Igboho.
Okorie, who spoke when he chaired the inauguration of the newly elected chairman of Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Comrade Lawrence Njoku, and his executive, called on the Federal Government to release Kanu, Igboho, and others who were prisoners of conscience, using political and diplomatic manner.
He pointed out that the Biafran agitation was being fuelled by the marginalization of the Igbo in Nigeria and urged the Federal Government to be committed to totally solving the Biafran problem in Nigeria.
Okorie said, “What I want to say is Nnamdi Kanu is pursuing an agenda that borders on marginalization, persecution, alienation of the Igbo people. He didn’t start it; Ralph Uwazuruike started it and somewhere along the line Uwazuruike’s effort began to wane and he (Kanu) came into it in 2012 with Radio Biafra. By 2014, his efforts have gained traction and of course, he became a thorn in the flesh of not just the Federal Government but some Igbo leaders who have not discharged their duties creditably, and the sentiment of the Igbo people are with him.
“But if you ask Igbo people, many will say it, others will not say it. But I am one of those who will say it; the issue of Nnamdi Kanu cannot be solved in the law courts no matter the technicality and the legalities you bring to bear. Even if you bring the best lawyers in Nigeria and the best judges, it cannot be solved in the law court. It can only be solved through dialogue. And there are people they can engage or if they cannot engage them, there are people who are making themselves available for that engagement.
“For instance, the Southeast caucus in the National Assembly has come together to say they want to engage the government on this aspect. So, President Buhari should not overlook this opportunity for engagement.
“If we bring out Nnamdi Kanu and other prisoners of conscience, there is no way they will not listen to those who made it possible for them to breathe the air of freedom again.”
Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Sam Onuigbo has hinted that palliative measures on the collapsed sections of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road are scheduled to commence next week. The emergency works are targeted at ameliorating the sufferings commuters face along the federal expressway.
He made this assurance in a chat with ABN TV on Saturday.
Hon Sam Onuigbo
While stating that the road has been a source of concern to him, the federal lawmaker further assured that the main work which will permanently solve the challenges faced by commuters will also commence in no distant future.
Earlier in a statement, while highlighting that the road has remained top in his representative agenda, Hon. Onuigbo said the journey for the reconstruction of the road began in 2016 immediately after he was elected to represent the people.
The lawmaker while chronicling his efforts to bring succour to users of the road said remedial works have been previously carried out on the road to make it passable to commuters, ending the era of using the Ikwueke, Amizi, and Oloko axis by commuters to access Akwa Ibom as was the case before he was elected.
He further noted that he has been in constant touch with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola whose office is in charge of federal roads across the country in an effort to permanently fix the road to end the misery the people pass through.
Read the full statement below:
I am usually the kind of person who prefers to do my work in silence and let the results speak for themselves. On several occasions, my team has gone public only when our relentless and quiet efforts have produced the desired results. But the current situation demands that I highlight our efforts at addressing the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road.
When I was elected to represent the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency in 2015, the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road was completely impassable such that commuters intent on accessing Akwa Ibom (and indeed some parts of Ikwuano) through the road had to pass through Ikwueke, Amizi, and Oloko, to look for alternative routes. It was a burden I came into office with and it was one of the first issues I addressed.
Series of engagements by me with the then Honourable Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, and currently the Minister of Works and Housing, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola began as far back as June 2016. Then, my first request, supported by pictorial evidence was for the Federal Government to rehabilitate the failed sections of the road so that the road can become passable. My second request was for the Federal Government to bring to an end the yearly ritual of palliative works on the road as it was no longer working and award the road for total reconstruction. HE Fashola agreed with me that the road was in bad shape and directed that FERMA should carry out palliative works on the road. The palliative works were done between December 2016 and April 2017. For a moment, our people heaved a sigh of relief.
The Honourable Minister also agreed with me that it was important to award the road for reconstruction. I continued to engage with him until the award of the contract for reconstruction in 2019 to Messrs Hartland Nigeria Limited/Raycon Nigeria Limited. The contractors mobilized to site late 2019 and started work. Unfortunately, due to non-provision of adequate funds by the Federal Government, they have pulled out.
It is important to place on record that from the moment the contractors started work till today, I have not relented in following up and calling for more funding to be made available to them. That is my work as your representative and that is what I have persistently done at great cost to me. The attached letters will show the persistent pressure I have mounted on the office of the Honourable Minister concerning this road. Similarly, I have also written to and met with the Managing Director of FERMA and other Directors in a bid to find temporary solutions while the reconstruction work is ongoing. I do not intend to stop mounting pressure until something is done. As the dry season sets in, it is my belief that FERMA would be able to quickly carry out palliative works on the failed sections again, while the contractors return to site.
The attached letters fill in the gaps from decisions made at my meetings with the Honourable Minister, and chronicle a journey which began in June 2016 (resulting in the rehabilitation of the failed portions of the road and the award of the contract for the total reconstruction of the road) and is still ongoing as I continue to mount the necessary pressure to see that this road is totally reconstructed.
I felt it was necessary to brief you all on our efforts so that you are assured that I have never and will never stop prioritizing your welfare. Leadership is a call to service and what gives me immense joy is to be able to serve you to the best of my ability and to the glory of God.
God will continue to guide and bless us.
Rep Sam Onuigbo Odozi Obodo
Honorable Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency
Below are pictures and video of the road obtain by ABN TV on 30th September 2021.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has confirmed the death of its Director-General, Dr Timothy Olawale.
NECA Secretariat said in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday that Olawale passed on, on Friday, October 1 in a hospital in Abuja. A report said he slumped, before being taken to the hospital, where he breathed his last.
“It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Timothy Olawale, our Director-General, which occurred on October 1 2021 at a hospital in Abuja.
“He is survived by his wife, children and other relatives; we pray the good Lord to grant his family and us all, the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss,’’ it stated.
The late Dr Olawale was confirmed as the substantive Director-General of NECA in January 2019, after six months in an acting capacity.
He succeeded Segun Oshinowo, who retired in December 2018 after serving the association for 19 years.
Following the killing of three persons by a truck at Afikpo-Abakaliki Expressway, in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday morning, youths in the area took to the streets to voice their grievances.
ABN TV reports that the articulated vehicle veered off the road and took the life of three youths said to be motorcyclist and two passengers.
Reacting, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, in a message, promised, “Help will come immediately.”
A community source who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed sadness over the development and advised commuters not to escalate the development.
“We are not happy over this development. A truck killed three of our youths and dumped their corpses in the bush and that’s why we are protesting about it.
“I will advise people [road users] to turn back. We are not happy at all. How can the truck driver kill our youths and hide their corpses?” the source said.
It was further learnt that the Afikpo-Abakaliki Expressway, Akpoha axis, has become impassable by commuters as vehicles were seen in a video parking along the road, while others were making a reverse to avoid running into the irate youths in the area.
Meanwhile, relevant authorities and security agencies in the state have assured residents that the matter will soon be brought under control, when they were contacted for reaction
Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Aliyu Garba, explained that the incident was occasioned by an accident.
According to him, “It’s as a result of a fatal motor accident where an Okada rider and passenger were crushed to death.”
Sources further told our Correspondent that the Chairman of Afikpo North LGA, Mrs. Obiageri Oko-Enyim; and a coordinator in the area were on top of the matter to calm the youths and clear the expressway for commuters.
The Permanent Secretary in Niger Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Ibrahim Garba Musa, has been abducted along with his granddaughter.
He was abducted in his house in Zugeru on Friday night.
ABN TV learnt that he was in Zugeru for a wedding celebration and picked up by the gunmen in the night after the celebration.
A family source told ABN TV that the gunmen entered the house by breaking down the gate to abduct the Permanent Secretary who was relaxing after the celebration.
The family has begun reaching out to the State Government to inform them about the incident.
The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, told our correspondent he has just been informed about the incident but was yet to confirm it.
He however said that the State Government would do its best to ensure the Permanent Secretary is rescued unharmed.
Niger Police spokesman DSP Abiodun Wasiu could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.
Five days after his kidnap at Langbasa area of Lagos, retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sikiru Smith, has regained freedom, ABN TV has learnt.
Smith was rescued from the waterside at Langbasa where his kidnappers abandoned him around 4am on Saturday by police operatives.
ABN TV reports that hooded gunmen who kidnapped the former Chief of Logistics of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) whisked him away in a boat to an unknown destination.
To ensure his safe rescue, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Alkali Usman deployed detachments of marine police operatives and special squads from Abuja to assist the Lagos Command.
Confirming his release to ABN TV, Lagos Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu said Smith has been reunited with his family, adding that efforts to apprehend the kidnappers were still on.
He said operatives had been on the trail of the culprits but were more concerned about his safe return.
“There are certain information I cannot give you but I am confirming that he has been rescued and reunited with his family.
“The operation started around 2am, he was eventually dropped at Langbasa waterside around 4am with some other persons.
“We will ensure the perpetrators are all rounded up,” Odumosu said.
The Federal Government, alongside other stakeholders in the health sector, on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan...
