Unidentified gunmen on Saturday dragged a newly wed man, Ojene Great Olisa out of his car and shot him in Igbarian, Anambra state, according to reports.
ABN TV reports that he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
As at the moment of this report, it is not clear whether he was killed or still alive following the incident.
Details shortly…..
Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu-Sheriff, says that the All Progressive Congress will require a rugged captain as national chairman in order to steer the ship for the party to achieve its dream of holding onto power for 30 to 40 years.
Sheriff, who is aspiring to lead the party if the chairmanship position is zoned to the North-East, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.
He explained that he has started consultations with party leaders across the country on the need to reposition the party to brace itself for the challenges of convincing Nigerians to keep faith with it after the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), might have completed his term by 2023.
Sheriff said, “Today, as a party, we are only six years in government. Our aspirations are for the APC to be in government in the next 30 to 40 years. Doing that doesn’t come on the platter of gold; we need to put in hard work.
“Therefore, I believe it is important for me to reach out to all leaders of our party; the youths, the women, different organizations to tell them that we must come together to get our party to run for the next 30, 40, 50 years by the grace of God. And doing that you need a rugged captain; you don’t need a captain that will capsize.
“A ship has to be navigated by a knowledgeable person who knows the water and I believe I can do that for our party if given the opportunity by party men and women who are the decision-makers. There are so many people in the field but you can look at everybody and see where you can put your deposit.
“We don’t want a bank that will collapse after a short period. So, I have been going around the country. After you leave now, I will travel again. I just came in last night.
“I have been away, traveling from one state to the other and I will continue doing that until everybody in our party is consulted. I meet them in their homes to say that, yes, I want to run for the National Chairmanship of this party and I believe I can lead us well because party politics is different.”
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The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji on Saturday celebrated with Mr & Mrs Promise GodBold as they were joined in Holy Matrimony.
Speaking at the wedding reception held at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, the Speaker advised the couple to build their new home on the foundation of trust and humility.
“Marriage is a beautiful thing when the two people involved understand the principles of living together; reconcile your differences privately and don’t involve third parties in your affairs“, he counselled.
The Speaker further advised the couple to maintain good communication in their home and make sure they grow together in peace.
Finally, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji wished the couple a fruitful home where progress, prosperity and success reign.
The marriage was earlier solemnised at Streams of Joy International Church, Umuahia.
The bride is the daughter of Lady Ngozi Oji, foremost woman leader in the State and former Executive Chairman of Ikwuano Local Government Area.
An unidentified policeman attached to the Delta State Police Command on Friday allegedly shot dead a 29-year-old father-of-one identified only as Gift in Obinomba, Ukwani Local Government Area of the state.
Eyewitnesses said that the man was celebrating his birthday with a few friends at a hotel in Obinomba when the incident occurred.
One of them who gave his name only as Chidi said, “The young man was having his birthday at a hotel along Obinomba and the Police raided the hotel for reasons best known to them. In the course of the raid, an argument ensued between the host and the Police. The young man begged them not to ruin his party. As he made to step out, a policeman with whom he earlier had an argument shot him.
“The young man fell and fainted. He was rushed by the Police to a private hospital in Obiaruku where he was confirmed dead on arrival.”
Another eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent that the deceased was a father of a four-month-old baby.
The development made youths in the community to protest on Friday and policemen put a barricade at the Sapele-Agbor Expressway.
“The man was a young father of a baby who is not up for four months. We protested last night till about midnight when the council chairman came and calmed the situation.
“He also visited the family of the victim. But the policemen refused to listen to the council chairman’s plea to open the road. They only did so this morning. The Police are fond of this kind of act.
“The policeman who committed the act must be dismissed. We want justice,’’ the eyewitness said.
He acted in self-defence –Police
When contacted, the state Police spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, said that the policemen acted in self-defence as he was about to be dispossessed of his rifle by youths in the community.
He added that he was only aware of a cult clash in the area and not a birthday party.
Edafe stated, “It was done in self-defence and I am going to explain what I mean by that.
“At a few minutes past 9pm on Friday, the Divisional Police Officer of Obiaruku Division got information that there was a cult clash in Obinomba village, Ukwani LGA, and that boys from a rival cult group had shot a man dead.
“They (the Police) went there and saw the man in a pool of blood and carried him in their van. On their way to the hospital, they saw some boys, numbering about 50 who gathered outside.
“One of the inspectors alighted and asked them what the problem was. The boys, in their usual manner, accosted the Police Inspector who was bearing an AK-47 rifle and they gagged him, trying to dispossess him of his arms.
“The men who were with him fired and one of the bullets got to a young man in his laps and others fled.
“The Police took both the man who was shot during a cult clash and the injured man to a hospital, but unfortunately, both of them were confirmed dead by the doctors on duty.”
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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerian Christian leaders and groups to preach fairness and equity relentlessly and advocates freedom of worship, justice, and the rule of law.
This, he said, is crucial for a more united and peaceful society.
Osinbajo said this on Saturday evening in Abuja after being honoured with the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Award of Excellence at a Dinner and Awards night organized to mark the 45th anniversary of the association.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement titled ‘Fairness, equity, respect for rights of others fundamental to peace, security, says Osinbajo’.
In his remarks after receiving the award, the Vice President noted that “fairness, equity and respect for the rights of others are fundamental to peace and security,” hence Christian leaders at all levels must strive to promote those virtues despite the challenges.
He said, “We must continue to let the important truth be known that Christ did not come to establish a religion or to condemn men, but to show all men that his own righteousness, not our righteousness or performance, is the qualification for eternal life.
“That the gospel commands consideration for the views of others, treating them as we would wish to be treated; non-violent communication, that our words must be words of grace seasoned with salt.
“We must, as an organisation and as individuals, remain constant and relentless advocates of freedom of worship, respect for human rights, fairness, justice and the rule of law.”
Commending the works of current and past leadership of CAN in promoting religious tolerance, Osinbajo said “CAN has not only been continually faithful to its founding vision, but it has also become a veritable force for peace, unity and social justice.”
According to him, “pursuant to the gospel, CAN has consistently spoken up on behalf of the ‘least of these’ in our society.
“Importantly, the current and past leadership of CAN have acted in full realization and recognition of their roles as pivotal stakeholders alongside the Government, private sector in nation-building.
“We are proud of the role of the moral compass of society and interlocutor for peace among the different faiths that CAN has played and continues to play in our nation.”
Continuing, the VP noted that “we are also proud of the enormous work that the current executive of CAN, ably led by His Eminence, Supo Ayokunle, has done.
“I am aware of your collaboration with the leadership of the Islamic and other faiths, to reconcile where there are conflicts, to pacify where there has been offence, and to reprimand where there have been misdeeds. Well, done, and congratulations.”
Speaking on dousing religious and ethnic tensions in the society, Osinbajo said “as we have seen in the past few years not just in Nigeria but all over the world, there is a growing religious and ethnic chauvinism.
“An almost intemperate, vehement and often violent dismissal of the views of people of other persuasions without adequate consideration. At the same time, there is the rise of identity and cultural politics. Brethren, the answer to hate, intolerance and conflict is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Other award recipients include former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; several State governors; faith leaders, including past Presidents and General Secretary of CAN.
The Imam who, during an attack in Barkin Ladi Plateau State on June 23, 2018, saved the lives of over 200 Christians, Abdullahi Abubakar, also received a special CAN recognition.
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A clergy and President of the Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and overseas, Pastor Samuel Oladele, has said anybody from the north who is planning to contest for the presidency in 2023 upon the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure does not love the country.
He stated this during a press conference held at the Ikeja Arakeji branch of the church during the week.
Oladele said, “Presidency should rotate between the north and the south. That’s not a perfect arrangement either, because when you talk about the north, it is not one. The South is also not one either. To allow for peace to reign in this country, I want to say that anybody among the Northerners hitching towards clinching the presidency again in 2023, after General Buhari does not love this country.
“No matter what, the South is not in short supply of good leaders. For the North to have occupied the seat for eight years and now saying it should go back there again is not going to help this country at all. Zoning or rotation is the best thing for a country like ours. If anybody from the north says he is going to contest for that presidency again in 2023, that person doesn’t love this country at all. What has been helping us is the rotation of the presidency.”
He also said it seemed like God may be using the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari as punishment to all Nigerians.
Expressing how disappointed he was at the president’s performance, having voted for him in 2011 and basked in joy with the news that he had won the elections, Oladele said it seemed like God may be using Buhari as a punishment to all Nigerians.
Oladele stated, “I persuaded some friends to vote for him. I voted for him in 2011 when he didn’t win. In 2015 when he won, I wasn’t in the country, when we received the news that President Jonathan had conceded victory to him, we all shouted and jumped for joy. But he has disappointed everybody who once loved and admired him because what is happening in Nigeria today defies logic.
Embattled police cop, Abba Kyari’s woes are far from over as the United States Government has gathered over 6,700 pages of documentary evidence and 2,700 electronic files from trial in a $1.1 million fraud case involving him and disgraced fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abass a.k.a Hushpuppi.
It can be recalled that Kyari entered hot water earlier this year after he was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI over his role in a massive $1.1 million fraud carried out on a Qatari businessman by Hushpuppi and a few others.
According to Premium Times, US prosecutors are currently scouring through investigative reports and “new discoveries” including documents obtained from foreign law enforcement. Prosecutors have asked the U.S. District Court for Central California to postpone trial from October 2021 to 17 May, 2022.
The parties jointly filed the application on Friday, citing various reasons for asking for trial postponement.
Apart from the need for additional time by the defence lawyers to prepare for the case, U.S. prosecutors also asked for more time to process troves of documents, including those obtained from foreign countries.
According to the application, the U.S. government has already handed to the defence approximately 2.31 GB of data consisting of 2,707 electronic files. The files contain, among others, exported chat logs, Cellebrite reports, WhatsApp messages, audio recordings, etc.
It added that prosecutors were processing approximately 6,773 pages of additional discovery expected to be produced in two weeks’ time.
“Defendants are charged with violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud); § 1956(h) (Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering); and § 1028A(a)(1) (Aggravated Identity Theft).”
“The government has produced discovery to the defense, including approximately 2.31 GB of native data consisting of 2,707 files including exported chat logs, Cellebrite reports, WhatsApp messages, audio recordings, and other social media content.”
“The government is currently processing approximately 6,773 pages of additional discovery including investigative reports and documents received from foreign law enforcement agencies for production and anticipates those materials will be produced within approximately two weeks,” the document reads, in part.
Three ready for trial in May, Abba Kyari, two others ‘at large’
In fulfillment of its desire to support less privileged school children gain access to essential school materials, the Malaysia Chapter of Neo Black Movement, NBM of Africa has put smiles on the faces of Nigerian students as it embarks on the Back2school charity initiative in three states.
ABN TV reports that the states are Anambra, Edo, and Delta State.
The exercise which has since been completed took place on September 22, 2021.
The President of the Malaysia Chapter of NBM of Africa, Mr. Okoye Lugard expressed joy at the fulfillment of the mission in line with the organization’s mandate.
https://youtu.be/Umaz2bYQQYs
He noted that it is a thing of honour to extend this charity welfare initiative to primary school pupils in Nigeria.
“The smiles on the children’s faces were worth millions and they shine like stars,” he remarked.
He expressed gratitude to the entire members of NBM of Africa Malaysia Chapter for their great contributions to the success of the programme.
He also thanked the National President of NBM of Africa for his unwavering support, encouragement, and commitment to the growth of the organization.
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a week’s stay in New York, United States of America (USA) for the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The President, who touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5:20 am on Sunday, was ferried to the Presidential Villa immediately.
While in New York, President Buhari engaged in a number of diplomatic and trade meetings with other leaders from different parts of the world.
While addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 24, President Buhari called the attention of the world to a couple of issues affecting the world, especially as it concerns the African continent.
He made a special appeal to the Assembly, especially the developed world, to make international trade accessible to all on fair and equitable terms, noting that free and fair global trades would make it possible for struggling economies to come afloat and made dependence on aids and handouts less of a choice.
He urged G20 countries to extend its debt suspension initiatives to all developing countries, least developed countries, and small island developing states facing fiscal and liquidity challenges.
The president also called for outright debt cancellation for countries facing the most severe challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The speech also touched on the efforts of his administration on anti-corruption, debt suspension, international trade, UN Security Council Reform, Palestinian Question, and racial discrimination, among others.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Ambush Soldiers In Borno, Kill 30
While still in New York, Buhari reiterated the determination of his administration to work on an ambitious Energy Plan towards reducing the energy shortcomings by the year 2030.
He spoke in line with Nigeria’s role as a Global Theme Champion for the Energy Transition, the theme of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy on the sidelines of the 76th UNGA.
“Nigeria’s commitment to a just transition is reflected in our ambitious Energy Compact, which includes the Government’s flagship project to electrify 5 million households and 20 million people using decentralised solar energy solutions”, the President said.
He also raised alarm over the recent trend of the unconstitutional takeover of power in some West African countries, urging world leaders to reject such illegal acts.
According to Buhari, such unconstitutional takeovers, sometimes in reaction to unilateral changes of constitutions by some leaders, should not be tolerated by the international community.
The president warned that the democratic gains of the past decades in West Africa ‘‘are now being eroded’’ due to these negative trends.
Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji, the immediate past Governor of Abia State on Saturday paid condolence visits to the families of Late Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, Late Lady Adanma Okpara and Late Francis Uche Mpama.
He commiserated with the families over the irreparable loss of their loved ones.
Prayed that God console them and give them the fortitude to bear the loss and carry on firmly this hard times.
The Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District signed the condolence registers of the families he visited.
Rt Hon Darlington Nwokocha, member representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency accompanied the Senator on the condolence visits.
