Lifestyle

Federal High Court to begin Easter vacation March 31

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The Federal High Court will commence its Easter vacation from March 31.

This was announced by Chief Judge, Justice Tsoho, and conveyed in a statement signed by the FHC’s Assistant Director of Information, Dr Catherine Oby-Christopher.

The vacation would last till April 17.

It read;

“This is pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (b) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).

“The court would resume sitting on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in all judicial divisions.”

During the vacation period, Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt judicial divisions shall remain open to the public only for cases of extreme urgency.

The statement added;

“Abuja judicial division would cater for cases from the Federal Capital Territory, North Central, North-Western and North-Eastern parts of the country with Justices Ahmed Mohammed and Donatus Okorowo presiding.

“The Lagos division will cater for cases from all the South Western states, while the Port-Harcourt judicial division will be responsible for cases from all states within the South-South and South Eastern geo-political zones.”

Justices T.G. Ringim and A.O. Awogboro would serve as vacation judges at Lagos division, Justices A.T. Mohammed and S.I. Mark would preside at Port-Harcourt division during the holiday period.

“The vacation judges and heads of divisions are as usual advised to promptly refer to the Hon. Chief Judge all matters which they believe may require His Lordship’s urgent attention and directives.

“The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Honorable Justice John T. Tsoho, wishes his fellow lordships a wonderful vacation in advance.”

Lifestyle

Bandits raid Zamfara LGA, kill police officers

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The police command in Zamfara on Sunday confirmed the killing of SP Kazeem Raheem, the Maru Divisional Police Officer in the Maru council area.

Also slain was Rabi’u Umar, a police inspector attached to the division.Command spokesman Muhammad Shehu confirmed the killings in a statement on Sunday in Gusau.

“On 5th March, 2023, at about 0200hrs, bandits in large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked Maru Divisional Police Headquarters in Maru LGA with intent to destabilise the security architecture of the town in order to easily attack and abduct members of the community,” said the police.

“However, the DPO and his team gallantly put up a strong resistance to repel the attackers.”

The statement added;

“Unfortunately, the DPO and the above-named inspector lost their lives while protecting the public.”

Police commissioner Kolo Yusuf reassured Zamfara residents of the command’s continuous commitment to protecting lives and property.

The police boss, according to the statement, deployed reinforcement to pursue the fleeing hoodlums to apprehend and prosecute them.

Command’s deputy police commissioner (operations), Iliyasu Kwarbai, led another police tactical team to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and confidence-building patrol.

Lifestyle

Several persons rendered homeless as rainstorm blows off 105 buildings in Ekiti

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Several persons have been rendered homeless after a heavy downpour destroyed more than 105 buildings in Oke-Ako, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Friday, March 3.

The downpour which started at about 3pm also destroyed some electricity facilities across the town, thereby subjecting the residents to a total blackout.

While on a visit to the affected area on Saturday, March 4, the deputy governor of the state, Monisade Afuye, described the incident as highly devastating.

A statement by the Special Assistant Media to the Deputy Governor, Victor Ogunje, on Saturday, quoted the Governor as expressing delight that no life was lost during the stormy rainfall.

“On behalf of his Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, I sympathize with you on the destruction caused by rainstorm to many residential buildings and electricity poles in this town , which we believe must have affected the wellbeing of the victims. Information at our disposal and on- the- spot assessment revealed that roofs of scores of residential buildings and electricity facilities were destroyed during the stormy rainfall, thereby rendering many homeless and helpless. We sympathise with the victims at this trying times and plead for calmness, in the sense that natural disaster of this nature is one occurrence that is difficult to control.

But with personal precautions and right efforts, its effects can be minimised.That was why the Governor Oyebanji’s administration is ready to support interested individuals to go into tree planting and the programmes will soon be rolled out to safeguard our environment and minimise havocs being wreaked on our buildings by rainstorm.

Tree planting is very essential. I observed that landlords here are not planting trees, I am not seeing them standing beside our houses. Let us inculcate the habit of tree planting to serve as wind breakers against storm.Let me also assure you that the state government won’t abandon you and allow you to regret in this current devastating conditions”

Lifestyle, Politics

Gombe govt disburses N500 million to 60 SMEs

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The Gombe State government has disbursed a N500 million grant to support 60 businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amount was disbursed to the beneficiaries under the Gombe COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (GO-CARES) programme.

It is a social programme in line with the federal government’s NG-CARES designed to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable households, Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

Governor Inuwa Yahaya announced this while presenting a N500 million cheque to representatives of the business groups on Saturday in Gombe.

He said the move was to support businesses, adding that about N3.4 billion has been expended since the inception of the GO-CARES programme in the state in 2022.

The government, he said, initiated viable interventions in the form of relief packages to support thousands of vulnerable families and businesses.

“So far, 147,666 indigenes of Gombe State have benefitted from the GO-CARES, and many more will come on board as many packages are underway.

“Ours is a grant not a loan, and the allocation of this huge sum is a proof of how important we take businesses owing to the role they play in the growth and development of our dear state,” he said.

According to the governor, about 60 businesses will benefit from the N500 million grant with immediate effect.

The governor said his administration had provided the right atmosphere conducive to thriving businesses through intensive investment in infrastructure and human capital development.

“It is against this backdrop that we are undertaking a N18 billion project, the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa, which will employ hundreds of thousands of youths and support numerous businesses within and outside Gombe State.”

Mr Yahaya called on the state’s people to re-elect the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure the sustainability and actualisation of viable social and economic development projects initiated by the party’s administration, including the Kolmani Integrated Oil Project.

He also urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the fund to grow their businesses for the development of the state.

Chairman of the business owners association, Uba Abdullahi, lauded the gesture, adding that it would reduce poverty and encourage the growth of SMEs in the state.

Business, Lifestyle

Financial experts laud Supreme Court’s judgement on recoloured naira notes

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Financial and economic experts have lauded Friday’s judgement of the Supreme Court invalidating the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The apex court had invalidated the naira redesign policy, ordering that all old notes must remain legal tender till December 31.

In an interview on Saturday in Ibadan, a financial expert, Lolade Adesola, said she believed the policy was “politically minded to curb vote-buying”.

Ms Adesola said, “But apart from that, there is no reason again for us to rush things. The Supreme Court’s judgement is, no doubt, good.”

Also, an economic expert, Samson Olalere, said those insinuating that the policy targeted the presidential and National Assembly elections could now be absolved.

“I see the judgement as a political judgement. They just wanted peace to reign, knowing that CBN, too, was not ready because they didn’t have the new notes.

“So, the best thing to mitigate this issue is for the court to give a judgement that will ease the pains of the people,” Mr Olalere said.

Commenting, an ex-banker, Philip Aragbada, said CBN must obey the judgement lest the apex bank commits an offence that could destabilise the nation.

“For anybody to disrespect the final judgement of the Supreme Court is a very serious thing that can lead to anarchy; even a layman knows that in any country.

“By this judgment, the CBN governor is bound to obey the judgment so that he will not be indicted,” Mr Aragbada said.

The Supreme Court had, in its judgement, said, “a policy of this magnitude should not be taken without consultation and must be in line with the global best practices”.

In the judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, on behalf of a panel of seven justices, it said:

“I, therefore, hold that no reasonable notice was given and therefore, declared the policy to be invalid.

“The imposition of a limit after collecting the old notes constitutes an illegal appropriation of private property,” the apex ruled.

Lifestyle

NAFDAC Director General highlights dangers of bleaching creams

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In a bid to eradicate the menace of bleaching creams and needless waste of scarce resources,The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to be aware of the dangers associated with such creams.

Adeyeye, while educating on the dangers associated with the use of bleaching creams, said such substances could result in cancer slowly building up in the body, doing damage to vital organs of the body and causing skin irritation, among others.

She made this known while delivering a speech at the beginning of the South-West zonal media sensitisation workshop tagged, “I’m Black and Proud,” at the House of Chiefs Hall, Agodi Secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State.

She said;

“Last year, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, acting on the resolutions of the Senate, wrote to NAFDAC, stressing the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching creams.

“We immediately took some decisive steps, such as sensitisation of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in trade fair complexes that have resulted in large seizures and destruction of violative products.

One such sensitisation action was the commencement of media sensitisation workshops organised for journalists in Abuja, Lagos and Kano.

Business, Lifestyle, Politics

Buhari must obey Supreme Court ruling on naira redesign policy- APC chieftain

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Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara, says the federal government should respect the Supreme Court judgement and allow Nigerians use the old naira notes concurrently with the redesigned notes.

Mr Shinkafi, who made the remarks while addressing reporters in Gusau on Friday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the rule of the law.

“President Muhammadu Buhari must respect the Supreme Court’s verdict and allow both the new and old naira notes to exist concurrently until December 31 as the court ordered,” Mr Shinkafi asserted.

“Since the Supreme Court has ruled that the old and the new naira notes remain legal tender, there is nobody in the country, no matter how highly placed, can violate the order,” the politician stressed.

He added;

“I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the court order and quickly instruct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release the notes back into circulation.”

He also urged the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to release both new and old notes as ordered by the court.

Mr Shinkafi lamented how the new naira notes policy had negatively affected many Nigerians whom he said had been languishing in poverty since the introduction of the cashless policy.

He said the president was not properly advised by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele.

“This is not how advanced countries changed their currencies.”

According to the politician, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia used systematic and gradual means to replace their currencies without any expiration date.

“There has been change of currencies in countries like the USA, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and other advanced countries but they don’t abruptly stop old notes from circulation.

“What they normally do is that they allow the old notes to go with the new ones concurrently until the old ones finally return to the banks and they never release them again,” Mr Shinkafi said.

He commended governors of Zamfara, Kaduna and Kogi states for their doggedness that would save the country from total collapse.

He advised the governors to return to court in the event that the President, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the CBN refused to abide by the Supreme Court order.

“The Governors have powers to apply for enforcement of form (48) contempt of court charge and form (49) committal to prison so that all the actors who choose to disregard the decision of the Apex Court can be taken to prison outrightly,” he said.

The APC chieftain admonished Nigerians to continue using both the old and the new Naira notes as legal tenders until December 31 as instructed by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, earlier on Friday in a unanimous judgement, ordered that the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes remained in circulation until December 31.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgement, held that the preliminary objections by the defendants (the Attorney General of the Federation, Bayelsa and Edo states) were dismissed as the court had the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Sixteen states of the federation instituted the suit to challenge the legality or otherwise of the introduction of the policy.

Justice John Inyang Okoro, who led a seven-man panel of Justices of the Court, had on February 22 fixed March 3 for the court to make its decision known on the suit.

The 16 states, led by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, prayed the apex court to void and set aside the policy on the ground that it was inflicting hardships on innocent Nigerians.

Business, Lifestyle

Supreme court nullifies naira swap policy, says old Naira notes valid till Dec. 31

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The Supreme Court has ruled that the old N200, N500, N1,000 notes remain valid and should be in circulation till December 31, 2023.

In a ruling delivered today March 3, the apex court also nullified the Federal Government’s naira redesign policy, declaring it as an affront to the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Emmanuel Agim who read the lead judgement, held that the preliminary objections by the defendants (the Attorney General of the Federation, Bayelsa and Edo states) are dismissed as the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Citing Section 23(2)1 of the constitution, the court held that the dispute between the federation and states, must involve law or facts.

The apex court further held that President Buhari in his broadcast, admitted that the policy is flawed with a lot of challenges.

The court also held that the policy has led to some people engaging in trade by barter in this modern age, in a bid to survive.

The court added that the President’s disobedience of the February 8 order, is a sign of dictatorship.

Sixteen states of the Federation instituted the suit to challenge the legality or otherwise of the introduction of the policy.

Lifestyle

Many feared dead as crude oil tapping point explodes in Rivers state

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An unspecified number of persons have feared dead after a crude oil tapping point in Rumuekpe community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State exploded in the early hours of today March 3.

One of the buses loaded with crude oil went up in flames while trying to navigate to an illegal refining point in the area. The explosion caused an inferno that burnt dozens of people including women beyond recognition.

The incident, which occurred along the Trans-Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP), also burnt many vehicles and tricycles to ashes.It was gathered that persons around the tapping point, who had either loaded the crude or waited for their turns were all k!lled by the explosion.

The Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident and said investigation has commenced.

Lifestyle

Police nab man for stealing neighbour’s goats

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On Thursday, a 30-year-old man, Waziri Yusuf, who allegedly stole his neighbour’s two goats, was docked in a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Mr Yusuf was charged with conspiracy and theft.Prosecution counsel Chidi Leo told the court that the case was reported on February 11 at the Gabasawa Police station by Sani Jibrin, the complainant.

The prosecutor said the defendant and two others, now at large, trespassed into the complainant’s house and stole two goats worth N45,000.

Mr Leo explained that the defendant was arrested after the owner of the stolen goats caught him in the act and raised the alarm, adding that the defendant was caught and handed to the police while the two others ran away.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel admitted the defendant to bail in N50,000 with one surety each.

He ordered that the surety be the defendant’s relation and gainfully employed.

The magistrate adjourned the matter until March 28 for a hearing.

Lifestyle, Politics

Over 1m Nigerians receive N5,000 cash monthly – Federal Government

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The Federal Government declared on Thursday that 1,940,004 vulnerable Nigerians were currently receiving N5,000 cash gifts every month.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, said this at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Retreat On National Social Investment (Establishment) Bill organised by the Senate Committee on Social Duties.

Farouq was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Nasir Gwarzo.The minister explained that the objective of the National Social Investment Programme Establishment Bill was to provide a statutory and institutional framework for the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme.

She noted that the NSIP was created in 2016 by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to address social and economic inequalities and alleviate poverty among Nigerians.

According to her, there are four social support programmes that are meant to empower the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians to enable them to attain an acceptable standard of living.

She said the NSIP was directly and indirectly impacting the lives of poor Nigerians through its four cluster programmes.

These, she said, included the N-Power Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and the Conditioner Cash Transfer Programme.

The programmes, she added, were designed to serve as various forms of social safety nets specifically targeting those at the bottom of the social ladder who require some form of assistance to enable them to become productive members of society and prevent more people from falling below poverty line.

She said;

“A wide range of Sustainable Development Goals including poverty reduction, education, health, social inclusion and empowerment can be achieved through the NSIP.

“Section 17(3) of the constitution provides that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all its citizens without discrimination have the opportunity of securing adequate means of livelihood and ensuring provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases of need among others.

“Contributory social protection schemes such as Social insurance, health insurance, and the pension scheme are all backed by legislation.

The laws are;

The Nigeria Social insurance Trust Fund Act, the National Health Insurance Authority Act, and the Pension Reform Act.

“The NSIP, which is a non-contributory social protection scheme is not backed by any law and this underscores the need for it to also have a piece of legislation.

“Since the inception of the NSIP in 2015, one million youths have been empowered through the N-Power Programme and additional 500,000 others are currently undergoing various training under the programme as approved by the President.

She noted that the cash transfer has enrolled 1,975, 381 poor and vulnerable households from the National Social Register into a National Beneficiary Register across the country.

She added that the Cash Transfer supports the poor and vulnerable to improve consumption and develop savings skills to reduce poverty and build their resilience to withstand shocks.

“A total of 1, 940, 004 beneficiaries are currently receiving cash transfers each month.

“Public Primary Schools across the country have witnessed an unprecedented number of new enrollments as a result of the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

“The programme is currently feeding 10 million pupils in over 66, 000 public schools across Nigeria. The programme is gradually reducing cases of out-of-school children nationwide,” she added.

According to her, 2,653,333 beneficiaries have accessed the GEEP loans under three categories including Trader Moni, Market Moni and Farmer Moni.

“A total of 1, 142, 783 individuals across the country have registered to benefit from the second round of GEEP under the three loan programmes”

The Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Yusuf Yusuf, explained that the retreat was aimed at bringing together critical stakeholders from the executive arm of government to be at par with the legislature on the proposed legislation.

Yusuf said, “Information is a very important tool for legislation. Since the government policy emanates from legislation, we invited critical stakeholders from the ministry and other agencies so that they can furnish the committee with vital information that would enable them to come up with a robust legislation for the NSIP establishment.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Police arrest suspected armed political thugs in Imo State

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Police operatives attached to Imo State Command have arrested suspected armed political thugs said to have been employed to disrupt the just concluded February 25, presidential election in Ohaji/Egbema council area of the state.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, Henry Okoye, says the armed thugs were arrested during a raid of the Umorji country home of Hon. Kingsley Uju, representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West federal constituency in the National Assembly, Abuja.

He gave the names of the suspects as Henry Nwabueze, 40, a native of Umorji in Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Achor David, 45, from Onitsha Mgbara in Ohaji/Egbema LGA and Tochukwu Obiego, 40, a resident at Mgbara in Ohaji/Egbema. Others include Clinton Ezekwe, 49, a native of Ohaji/Egbeme LGA and Onuorah Raphael, 33, who hails from Ngor-Okpala LGA.‘’

Acting on Credible Intelligence that Hon Kingsley Uju, House Member representing Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly hired mercenaries to heat up Polity and thwart the Presidential and National Assembly Elections schedule for 25th Feb, 2023 in the State, Operatives of the Command’s Tactical teams swiftly embarked on a raid exercise on 24/02/2023 at about 20:00 hrs , in the house of the said Hon Kingsley Uju at Umorji, Ohaji/Egbema, Imo State, heavily suspected to be used as an operational base for the suspected thugs to disrupt the electoral process”

Okoye said items recovered from them include one pump-action gun, three locally-fabricated guns, an HP printer, four laptop computers and documents containing registration details of voters in Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru West LGA.

Other items recovered incriminating items are 50 live cartridges, one LG remote, a power bank, one walkie-talkie, three Laptop external keyboards, Toyota Camry with Registration number GWA574AZ and Toyota Corolla with Registration no NKK 837GK.Eight mobile phones, a Belushi wristwatch, one ring and N15,000 cash were also recovered from them.

Lifestyle

Police officer shoots lady and then self dead in Kwara

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A police officer identified as Sergeant Olalere Michael on Thursday morning, March 2, stormed the Chapel of Redemption Agba Dam housing estate in Ilorin, shot, and k!lled a yet-to-be-identified lady, and then shot himself dead.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, says the police received the information that at about 8am, the officer with the tag F/NO 497093 and attached to 15 PMF, Ilorin, went to the estate where he shot the lady and then shot himself dead.

Ajayi mentioned that immediately after the information got to the command, the Commissioner of Police for Kwara State, CP Paul Odama, dispatched a team of policemen and detectives to the scene, where the c@rpses were recovered and deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where the bodies were certified dead.

He stated that the deadly incident was an aftermath of love gone sour and that it has nothing to do with police brutality.

He added that investigation of this unfortunate incident is in progress, and the report of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is ready.

Lifestyle

80 shops razed in Kano market fire

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At least 80 shops were razed by fire in Kasuwar Kurmi Market in the Kano Municipal, the state fire service said.

A statement on Wednesday in Kano by the service spokesman, Saminu Abdullahi, said the fire started at about 05:23 a.m.

Mr Abdullahi said the service received a distress call from one Aliyu Alkasim that there was an outbreak of fire at the market.

The market is famous for trading in perfume, ginger and leather.

The spokesman said six permanent and 74 open shops were completely razed by the fire.

Mr Abdullahi, however, confirmed that no life was lost and no one was injured.

He said the cause of the fire was being investigated.

Mr Abdullahi advised consumers to switch off and disconnect all electrical appliances and avoid careless use of naked fire, especially within the market premises.

Lifestyle

Man in court for damaging UBA property

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A 23-year-old man, Ezekiel Olamilekan, on Wednesday appeared before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly damaging the full front glass of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mulero, Dopemu branch, Lagos State.

Mr Olamilekan, with others still at large, is facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and malicious damage.He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The police prosecutor, Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the defendant, along with others at large, maliciously damaged the full front glass of UBA Bank, Mulero branch.

Mr Kokoye said that the value of the said property was yet to be ascertained.He said that the offences were punishable under sections 411 and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

The presiding magistrate, Sakirat Obasa, admitted the defendant to N100,000 bail and two reliable sureties.

She adjourned the case until March 20 for mention.

Lifestyle

Governor Zulum sets up committee to investigate market fire

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Governor Babagana Zulum has set up a 24-member high-powered investigation committee on the Maiduguri Monday Market fire.

The market was razed on Sunday.This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by the secretary to the state government, Usman Shuwa.The committee will also handle emergency relief assistance to victims of the fire.

According to the statement, the committee’s terms of reference include determining the immediate and remote causes of the fire disaster to assess and ascertain whether or not there are specific individuals who may be directly or indirectly responsible for the incident.

The committee, he said, is also to examine the magnitude of the fire incident and the extent of damage to the structures and assess the type of relief assistance to the inferno victims.

It would also determine the number of persons who suffered the losses and establish the amount of property each person lost to the fire disaster.

The committee has Zarami Dungus as chairman, while the secretary of Monday Market will serve as the committee secretary.

The Borno government released N1 billion as a relief package for the victims.

Lifestyle, Politics

Two voters reportedly shot dead by hoodlums at polling unit in Edo

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Two voters were fatally shot at their polling units in Benin, Edo State.

The victims, identified Elizabeth Osadebamwen and Idahosa Festus, were killed on election day, Saturday, February 25, at their polling unit in Ogheghe, Sapele road.

The victims had cast their votes and were reportedly waiting for vote counting when the hoodlums stormed the polling unit at about 7pm and started shooting indiscriminately.

Friends have taken to Twitter to mourn the deceased.

Lifestyle

Thugs Didn’t Attack Lagos Island Traders – Police

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The Lagos State Police Command has debunked rumours that people were injured and robbed during an unrest at the Lagos Island Market on Monday.

Unverified reports on social media claimed that political thugs attacked the market to vandalise shops and rob people.

Debunking the reports, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that police intervened in the unrest and no one was hurt.

He tweeted;

“This is fake news. The market association agreed that shops would remain closed yesterday and today. Igbo traders this morning decided to renege on the agreement and open shops.

“Some hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. The police were alerted.

“The police arrived promptly. The hoodlums fled upon sighting police patrol vans. Not one shop was vandalised. Not one person was robbed. Not one person was injured. Normalcy was swiftly returned, and officers remained on the ground. Go and verify! SHUN FAKE NEWS!”

Lifestyle

NDLEA arrests three grandfathers over 52kgs cocaine, skunk

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three sexagenarian grandfathers and a Nigerien concerning the seizure of over 52.252 kilogrammes of cocaine, methamphetamine and skunk.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the agency seized 32,590 pills of opioids in Lagos, Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, and two courier companies.

He said a man on the NDLEA watchlist, Benjamin Chimaobi, who frequents Cameroun, Ethiopia and Uganda, was arrested on February 18 at Victory Estate, Iba, Ojo area of Lagos.

He said the suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure of a 19.70kgs cocaine abandoned on an Ethiopian airline flight that arrived at Lagos airport on Thursday, February 9.

According to him, Mr Chimaobi had travelled to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to pick up the consignment.

“He claimed it was handed over to him in a black backpack bag on the plane in Addis Ababa but failed to disembark with it on arrival in Lagos.

“While the agency continues to investigate the flight crew members, relevant intelligence and investigative tools were deployed to identify the passenger who brought the consignment to Nigeria.”

Mr Babafemi said Mr Chimaobi was eventually unravelled and traced to Victory Estate, Iba, where he was arrested.

He added that operatives on February 23 intercepted an intending passenger on a Turkish Airline flight to Torino via Milan, Italy, at the departure hall of Lagos airport.

The suspect, Obazee Timothy Eguagie, was arrested with various quantities of opioids consisting of 22,840 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 10.60 kg.

“Others include 1000 tablets of Tramadol 200mg with a gross weight of 600 grams; 2, 300 capsules of Tramadol 100mg weighing 800 grams and 60 tablets of Rohypnol 1mg, weighing 19 grams.”

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed inside cloths and wrapped with black tapes.

He also said the NDLEA operatives attached to Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) import shed of the airport on February 24 intercepted eight cartons of shoes from Los Angeles, United States.

Mr Babafemi said a diligent examination of the cargo showed the shoes were used to conceal 37 parcels of a Loud variant of Cannabis with a gross weight of 20.10 kilogrammes.

He said a 63-year-old grandfather, Balogun Akinlabi, hired as a freight agent to clear the illicit consignment, has already been arrested.

“Two other sexagenarians arrested in connection with drug trafficking include Butven Siman, 62, who was nabbed with 5.5kgs skunk on Friday, February 17, at Timbol village, Langtang South LGA, Plateau.

“Also, 65-year-old Musa Shuaib was arrested with a kilogramme of cannabis on Thursday, February 23, in the Adewole area of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.”

Mr Babafemi said operatives of NDLEA in Lagos also recovered a total of 4.292 kilogrammes of psychoactive drugs, including Methamphetamine, Tramadol, Lexotan, and Swindon.

He said the drugs, which were at two major courier companies in Lagos, were concealed in walls of cartons, picture frames, bathing soap packs and bedsheets.

He added that they were recovered from parcels going to the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia by officers of the NDLEA attached to the logistics firms.

Mr Babafemi also said NDLEA operatives at Illela border in Sokoto State on February 21 intercepted a Nigerien, Bashar Abdu of Kwanni, Niger Republic, with 1.460kgs of skunk wrapped around his private part.

He said another suspect, Mohammed Garba (a.k.a Alfazazi), was arrested with 6,390 tablets of Tramadol 225mg, weighing 3.4kgs on February 23 along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

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