Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Department of State Services to release human rights activists, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare, within the next 24 hours.

The judge also ordered the DSS to pay the sum of N100, 000 to Sowore for refusing to release him on bail despite two court orders to that effect.

The court also adjourned the trial of the case brought against them by the Nigerian Government till December 6 (tomorrow) for continuation.

More details shortly….

In recognition of its professionalism in information dissemination, the management of National Broadcast Academy (NBA) Lagos, the training arm of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria has awarded ABN TV the best online news platform for the year 2019.

The Executive Director ABN TV, Ifeanyi Okali has also been invited as a special guest to the Academy’s end-of-course ceremony where the award presentation will take place on December 13, 2019.

In a release signed by the Chairman organizing committee, Oluwasegun Akioya, this event will take place at NBA premises, GRA Ikeja at 11am

Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has described the Member representing Bende Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as a fantastic federal legislator and a great representative of his people and the people of Abia State.

The Governor who stated this on Tuesday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House Umuahia when he received a delegation from the Niger Delta Development Commission who were in the state on a working visit. Hon. Kalu was part of that delegation as a member of the House Committee on the NDDC.

President of the association while addressing the Speaker and Honourable Members present, eulogized the Speaker and his colleagues “for all the wonderful works you people have been doing including the remodeled Assembly to world class standard, quality laws emanating from the House and the productive oversight functions by the different House Committees that have brought about positive changes in the State”.

They therefore appealed to the lawmakers, in the spirit of the quality laws coming from the Assembly, to help amend the defects in the edict setting up the polytechnic. They also requested the House to help ensure the inclusion of members of the Alumni in the Governing Council of Abia State Polytechnic.

Speaking further, the association’s president informed that, “We have resolved to erect a building at the permanent site of the Polytechnic, and we want to use this opportunity to most humbly invite you to grace the foundation laying ceremony coming up on the 14th of December, 2019”.

At this juncture, the Chairman of the Abia State House Committee on Appropriation and Member representing Osisioma North State Constituency, Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, announced that he is also a member of the Abia State Polytechnic Alumni Association.

In his response, the Speaker thanked the group for coming to visit him and his colleagues and attributed all the good things the Association has said about the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, including the remodeled House, to the collaborative efforts of all the lawmakers.

Turning to his lawmaker-colleagues, the Speaker thanked them for their cooperation and support that have made the Assembly achieve all that they have in the short period of time they have been in office.

He went further to say that all the Ad Hoc and House Committees set up by the Assembly were meant to improve the system and not to witch hunt anybody. “Contrary to rumors and propaganda making waves then, the legislative interventions have ensured a working system.

“When we started, there were lots of propaganda against the Committees and the House, but today nobody was probed, the governor was never a target of our oversight functions as can be seen now that our steps were and will remain to keep bringing progress to Abia”, he said. He therefore called on the alumni to also help government by keeping an eye on the Polytechnic by speaking out against some of the ills perpetuated there.

Continuing, the Speaker said, “My aim is to ensure that good news always comes out from Abia State. We are focused as Assembly members to ensure that people do their work as expected and carry out their duties in service to the people. This is what also ensures that our members are respected by Abians.

He assured the Association of the support of the Assembly in whatever way they can to help them achieve their aims.

A federal high court in Ikoyi has asked the federal government to recover pension and allowances received by Bukola Saraki and Godswill Akpabio as former state governors.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sued the federal government in 2017 over its “failure to stop former governors from receiving double pay and life pensions”.

It also sued the government for failing to seek the recovery of over “N40bn unduly received by the former governors” who are now serving senators and ministers.

Other individuals named by SERAP as beneficiaries of this policy are Rabiu Kwankwaso, Theodore Orji, Abdullahi Adamu, Sam Egwu, Shaaba Lafiagi, Joshua Dariye, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Sani Yarima, Danjuma Goje, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Adamu Aliero, George Akume, Biodun Olujimi, Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Chris Ngige and Babatunde Fashola.

The court made an order directing Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation to institute appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws permitting former governors, who are now senators and ministers to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.

The court adjourned till February 3, 2020, for a report of compliance with the judgement by the federal government.

Recently, the Zamfara state house of assembly abolished a law that allowed the payment of pension and other allowances to former governors and their deputies.

SERAP says it will not relent until the judgement is fully enforced and all state governors abolish the life pension law in their states.

Following a dramatized wedding by kids of Pinecrest School Enugu that recently broke the internet, father of the little bridegroom, Chief Amobi Godwin Ogah has said his kid’s excellent performance was influenced by how he lives with his wife at home.

In a chat with ABN TV on Wednesday, Ogah said his son, Prince Amobi Jnr learned the art of loving and caring from the way he exhibits love to his wife and other members of the family at home.

The National Assembly on Tuesday, granted full financial and administrative autonomy to all the 774 local council authorities across Nigeria by amending section 124 of the nation’s constitution.

The section provides a consequential provision for the making of the local councils, a full third tier government without undue interference from the state governments.