Politics

Anglican Priest, his wife, house help all found dead.

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Abia State witness mystery as the Priest-in-charge of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ariaria in the North Local Government Area of the state, Archdeacon Julius Dike, was found dead with his wife and house help.

His wife, Agnes, was said to be a staff of the Aba South Local Government Area while the house help was said to be a relation of the wife.

Sources in the area told Newsmen that the priest went to bed with the wife and house help in the house after a crusade on Monday night with no sign of ailments.

It was gathered some of the parish members who attended the morning service became apprehensive when the priest did not come out to conduct service.

None of his family member was also around to explain why he wasn’t seen yet. Some members of the church were said to have gone to his apartment to inquire if all was well only to meet their doors locked.

No one responded to their calls, a development sources said were not usual with the priest and the family. Worried by the situation, the parishioners were said to have summoned courage to break into their apartment only to meet the priest, the wife and their maid lifeless.

They were said to have been hurriedly moved them to a private hospital where they were confirmed dead. A source in the church, who spoke anonymously, said that they were yet to know the cause of their death.

He stated that they are suspecting food poison as they could not trace any sign that they could have inhaled generator fume.

The source added that the children could have died along with their parents if not that they had gone back to their various boarding schools.

An inside source from the police, who said that they were yet to have an official report about the incident, stated that the police have swung into action to unearth the cause of the unexplainable deaths.

Politics

Lagos Police arrests, detains 19 suspected cultists over Alakuko crisis

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The Police in Lagos State has arrested 19 suspected cultists in connection with alleged cult-related fracas at the Alakuko, Dalemo, and Kola areas of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, announced this in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Monday, February 8, in Lagos.

Odumosu said that intelligence reports revealed that the hoodlums came from the Otta axis of Ogun to lay siege and cause a cult-related crisis on the affected border communities.

He said that items recovered from the suspected cultists included, dangerous weapons, assorted charms, and weeds suspected to be hemp.

The command has deployed additional police personnel, including Police Mobile Force, to curtail activities of the hoodlums and restore normalcy to the communities.

“I have also directed that the suspects arrested be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet investigation,’’ the commissioner said.

Odumosu urged community leaders in the areas to support the Police in combating the crisis and getting rid of bad boys in their respective areas.

“This command is working hard with the Police Command in Ogun to decimate activities of hoodlums and cultists in border areas,’’ he said.

Politics

EFCC arrests 14 suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 14 suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this in a statement sent to Ripples Nigeria, said the suspects were arrested following series of intelligence on their alleged fraudulent activities.

He added that they were arrested at 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, on February 4.

The suspects are – Akin Abiola Daramola, Stephen Augustine Terungwa, Oluwateru Abiodun Samson, Jeffrey Imariagbe Ehis, Uwajiala Odion Henry, Solomon Abidiran Pelumi, Adebayo Oluwatobi Isaac Olamide and Odunifa Joseph Opomulero.

Others are – Adulkarim Samad Olalekan, Anne Davidson, Ibrahim Enakere Emmanuel, Abayomi Oluwagbenga Olowoake, Israel Jigah Sokoamtu, Oluwaseun Olajuwon Ibrahim and Isaiah Effiong

“They have been interrogated and will soon be arraigned in court,” the EFCC spokesman said.

It would be recalled that a young man jumped to his death from the seventh floor of the high-brow estate during EFCC’s raid on the premises on February 4.

The man, who was not a suspect, was confirmed dead at a hospital he was rushed to by residents of the estate.

Politics

Trump’s impeachment is constitutional– US Senate

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The US Senate has found that the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is constitutional, allowing full proceedings to begin.

Mr Trump’s defence team argued that he could not face trial after leaving the White House.

But a 56-44 majority voted in favour of continuing, with a handful of Republicans backing the measure.

Mr Trump is accused of “inciting insurrection” when Congress was stormed last month.

Thousands gathered in support of false claims that widespread electoral fraud denied Mr Trump victory in the US presidential election.

However Mr Trump is almost certain to be acquitted because only six Republican senators voted to move forward with impeachment, well short of the 17 Republicans whose votes would be needed to convict Mr Trump.

Democrats prosecuting the case opened the proceedings by showing a dramatic video montage of Mr Trump’s 6 January speech and the deadly rioting by some of his supporters.

“That’s a high crime and misdemeanour,” Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland said of the footage. “If that’s not an impeachable offence, then there’s no such thing.”

Lawyers for the former president argued it was unconstitutional to put a former president through the process at all and accused Democrats of being politically motivated.

A two-thirds majority is required to convict Mr Trump in the evenly split 100-seat Senate. Tuesday’s vote implies loyalty toward the former president in his party remains high enough to avoid a conviction.

However, if convicted, Mr Trump could be barred from holding office again.

Politics

“If You’re Planning To Invade Lekki Tollgate Again, Actions Will Carry Great Consequences”- Igbokwe

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It’ll never be forgotten in the history of Nigeria that millions rose up and objected the continuous evil activities of some leaders in our nation. I would tell you that the whole world was watching as Nigerians said “no to police brutality in the country”. The most memorable being 20th October, 2020 when souls were lost at the Lekki Tollgate after they were shot to death. All around Nigeria, many were injured, properties were damaged and people were in fear of threats.

However, the tollgate’s activities and operations were stopped as a result of this incident which played out last year. It has now come to the notice of Nigerians that the tollgate will be reopened shortly because millions of naira have been lost due to non-payment of tickets. Many have objected this call for the reopening of the tollgate and thus will be gathering in large numbers at the tollgate on 13th February, 2021.

An Igbo man who resides in Lagos as the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain (Lagos Chapter) has sent a strong warning to all Nigerians who will resurface at the tollgate on 13th February. The man being Joe Igbokwe shared via his Facebook account that those who are planning to invade the tollgate again, should ask those who invaded US Capitol Hill for their experiences. It will be recalled that some Americans took over the United States’ Capitol in Washington DC to oppose the results of the election. These rioters were apprehended and are now facing sentences in the law court and prison. Joe Igbokwe has called on people who are yet to come to the tollgate to protest as he said that actions this time will carry adequate consequences.

Should this be a threat to some Nigerians who will flood the tollgate on 13th February, 2021? Are there unknown motives and plans by the Lagos State Government? In all these, we must stand for the truth but be careful because live has no second chance. A lot lost their lives and are no more but will be remembered for their bravery, we don’t know what’ll take place on that day.

Politics

El Zakzaky’s wife never had COVID-19 —Correctional Service boss

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The wife of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has tested negative for the COVID-19 virus after tests were run on her by a personal physician.

The negative COVID-19 test result of El-Zakzaky’s wife, Zeenat, who allegedly contracted the virus while in custody in Kaduna was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Controller-General, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), John Mrabure.

In the statement, Mrabure further disclosed that a test was conducted in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, Zeenat’s personal physician and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“The test result has been released and the inmates, including her contacts have no trace of COVID-19 virus.

“It is important to state with emphasis that Zeenat El-Zakzaky never contracted COVID-19 infection as it was alleged,” Mrabure’s statement read in part.

Politics

Ogun police arrest armed robber posing as NSCDC officer

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Ogun State Police Command has apprehended a suspected armed robber, who operates using Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) uniform.

The spokesperson of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the capital city on Tuesday said the suspect was arrested on Friday in Ayetoro, Ayetoro council area, following a complaint by some students of Ayetoro campus of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) that they were robbed on Thursday at gunpoint by a man in NSCDC uniform.

Mr Oyeyemi mentioned that the suspect broke into the students’ apartment and carted away their phones and laptops.

He however, said that following the compliant, some detectives were detailed to go after the suspect and he was arrested.

He added that “On getting to the hideout in an uncompleted building, the police found a bag containing six phones, one laptop, a pair of NSCDC uniform and a locally-made pistol.

The detectives, thereafter, mounted surveillance in the area and at about 5 p.m., the suspect sneaked into the building and moved straight to where the bag was kept.

He was quickly rounded up and two other stolen phones and a wristwatch were found on him. He was, thereafter, taken to the police station.

“The complainants, who returned to the police station on Friday (Feb. 5), identified him as the person who robbed them.

“Investigations further revealed that the suspect stole a pair of NSCDC uniform from a parked Toyota Camry car, belonging to an officer of the corps in December 2020 and, thereafter, set the car ablaze.

“The NSCDC officer has also identified the uniform as his own,” Mr Oyeyemi said.

He also said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Ajogun, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department for investigation and prompt prosecution.

Politics, World News

Trump Committed ‘Most Grievous Constitutional Crime’ – Prosecutors

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Donald Trump committed the “most grievous constitutional crime” of any US president when he incited supporters to storm the Capitol last month, Democratic prosecutors said Monday on the eve of his Senate impeachment trial.
In their final filing before the Senate’s 100 members sit in judgment of Trump, the nine House impeachment managers prosecuting the Republican leader also insisted the case should not be dismissed.
Trump’s lawyers pushed for a dismissal in a document released hours earlier, saying the Senate “lacks jurisdiction” to try Trump, who left office on January 20, because he is no longer a sitting president.

Donald Trump

The Democratic managers directly rejected the argument and said there is “overwhelming” evidence of impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors.
“His incitement of insurrection against the United States government — which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power — is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president,” they said.
“The article of impeachment properly alleges an impeachable offense under the Constitution, is not subject to a motion to dismiss (and) is within the jurisdiction of the Senate sitting as a Court of Impeachment,” they wrote.

Politics

It is unlikely coronavirus came from a laboratory in China

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International experts investigating the origins of Covid-19 have all but dismissed a theory that the virus came from a laboratory in China.

Peter Ben Embarek, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) mission, said it was “extremely unlikely” that the virus leaked from a lab in the city of Wuhan.

He said more work was needed to identify the source of the virus.

The investigation could now focus on South East Asia, one expert said.

The WHO team are currently at the end of their investigation mission.

Wuhan, in China’s central Hubei province, is the first place in the world that the virus was detected in 2019. Since then, more than 106 million cases and 2.3 million deaths have been reported worldwide.

Dr Embarek told a press conference the investigation had uncovered new information but had not dramatically changed the picture of the outbreak.

Experts believe the virus is likely to have originated in animals before spreading to humans, but they are not sure how.

Dr Embarek said work to identify the origins of Covid-19 pointed to a “natural reservoir” in bats, but it was unlikely that this happened in Wuhan.

He said identifying the animal pathway remained a “work in progress”, but that it was “most likely” to have crossed over to humans from an intermediary species.

The experts also said there was “no indication” that the virus was circulating in Wuhan before the first official cases were recorded there in December 2019.

Liang Wannian, an expert with China’s Health Commission, said Covid-19 could have been in other regions before it was detected in Wuhan.

The team called for further investigation into the possibility of “cold chain” transmission, referring to the transport and trade of frozen food.

Dr Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO team, said the focus on where the origins that led to Covid-19 might be, could be shifted to South East Asia.

“We’ve done a lot of work in China and if you map that back it starts to point towards the border and we know that there is very little surveillance on the other side in the whole region of South East Asia,” he told the BBC’s John Sudworth in Wuhan.

“China is a very big place and South East Asia is a very big place. The supply chains to the Huanan seafood market were extensive, they were coming in from other countries, they were coming in from various parts of China, so to really trace that back it’s going to take some work.”

He added that the focus should now be on those supply chains.

The WHO mission began in January, following months of negotiations with Beijing. The experts’ visit was closely-monitored by the Chinese authorities.

Politics

Lagos Assembly passes motion banning illegal sales of COVID-19 drugs

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The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a resolution banning the illegal sales and administration of drugs meant to treat COVID-19 in the state.

The House resolution followed a motion by the Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Health, Hakeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) owning to raising illegal trading of Covid-19 drugs.

Mr Shokunle expressed concerns at the rate of unchecked importation of Covid-19 drugs, adding that there should be a way to regualate the importation of such drugs as well as their sales.

An amendment to the bill will provide the needed impetus for the government to respond to the challenges being faced by the people following the outbreak of Coronavirus,” he said.

Weighing in, a representative from Ifako-Ijaiye 1 noted that due to the deadly Covid-19, there is need to place premium on public health.

“COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the world, we are all affected, and we must come against the issue of self-medication and self-administration of drugs,” he said.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the House Committee on Health to further liaise with the executive arm of government with a view to scrutinising and strengthening the bill.

Politics

PGF DG, Lukmon, warns APC against admitting Fani-Kayode

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The Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to be wary of the ‘clandestine’ attempts by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to infiltrate into its camp, saying doing so will be ‘rewarding scandalous behavior.’

Lukman was reacting to stories making the rounds on Monday that Fani-Kayode was consulting with some leaders of the APC with a view to perfecting his defection to the ruling party.

In the evening of Monday, pictures had emerged of the former Minister with the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Borno State and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi States who is the Chairman of the APC Membership Mobilization drive.

However, Fani-Kayode has come out to clear the air on the meeting with the APC leaders, saying his meeting with them was to discuss the “state of the nation, national issues, party politics and the way forward.”

“Yesterday, I had the honour and privilege of having a very productive and important meeting with the Nat. Chairman of the APC, Gov Mai Buni of Yobe state and Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. We discussed the state of the nation, national issues, party politics & the way forward,” Fani-Kayode posted on his Twitter handle on Tuesday morning.

But the PGF DG would not take such explanation as he came out with a statement on Tuesday titled “APC: Reminder about Our Values,” Lukman kicking against any attempt to admit Fani-Kayode who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), into its fold as he will bring in division into the ranks of the ruling party.

Lukman added that the APC should not be for someone like Fani-Kayode, asking whether the party leadership would also “contemplate admitting secessionist agitator, Nnamdi Kanu or Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau into its fold.

The statement reads in part:

“For our leaders to associate themselves with Mr Fani-Kayode, is simply rewarding scandalous behaviour. Mr Fani-Kayode has fabricated stories, distorted, insulted and damaged information about our party and our leaders.

“The elementary rule of decency would require some good distance between our leaders and such a person. Not even the ward leaders where he is located should be associated with him except for reasons of family ties.

The elementary rule of decency would require some good distance between our leaders and such a person. Not even the ward leaders where he is located should be associated with him except for reasons of family ties.

“By the way, the Caretaker Committee of our party should avoid a situation whereby it takes a decision on issues that are very weighty without consultations. On no account should anyone with the kind of baggage of Mr Fani-Kayode be invited to join the party without clearance from a statutory structure of the party.

“In this particular instance, the National Caucus should be the clearing house.

That our leaders will be meeting with Mr Fani-Kayode in such a compromising way, suggesting that he may be on his way to joining our party, clearly indicates that either those of us saddled with the responsibility of advising them have failed or we have been completely cut off.

“How can a person, who just a few days, if not a few hours ago, wrote to one of our leaders and derogatorily and condescendingly condemned his political prospects of emerging as the Presidential candidate of our party, be given such a high-level reception?

Assuming the open letter to our National Leader, which is all over our media at the time of such reception, wasn’t offensive, what of the open letter he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari last year?

“Besides the open letters, what abusive language has he not used against our party and our leaders? Most of these are unprintable. A typical example of the kind of abuses he spat on our leaders and our party can be demonstrated with his response to a tweet by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Information, last May 2020.

Mr Adesina argued that President Buhari’s emergence as President saved the country. Responding, Mr Fani-Kayode said: ‘Not so my friend. The emergence of Buhari in 2015 annihilated Nigeria and plunged her into darkness, death and destruction. He came to steal, kill and destroy and for the last disastrous 5 years that is all he has done.’

“Compared to most of Mr Fani-Kayode’s barrages of insults on APC and its leaders, this would appear to be very civil. Most Nigerians, both APC members and non-APC members, would appear to be in agreement that any association between APC and its leadership with Mr Fani-Kayode is indicative of the problem of values.

Without being academic in any way, the issue of values is basically about the qualities of people and the vision they hold. What kind of people are we aspiring to attract into our party?

“Do we want to reduce our party into one in which everybody is welcome? Can we, for instance, in any way or form contemplate having a Nnamdi Kanu or Abubakar Shekau as a member? If that were to be the case, why don’t we just have INEC register IPOB and Boko Haram as political parties and allow them to field candidates for elections?

We may be tempted to argue that Mr Fani-Kayode is not Nnamdi Kanu or Abubakar Shekau. It is however difficult to fathom what qualifies him to be associated with our leaders at that high level?

“At this rate, one day, Nigerians will just wake and see some of our leaders presenting Mr Fani-Kayode to President Buhari as a new member of our party. Although we can confidently argue that President Buhari will not approve such deranged possibility, it is important to caution that such consideration will be stretching the trust of party members beyond acceptable limits.”

Politics

Amotekun intercepts 80 suspected fulani herdsmen.

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Men of Oyo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, have intercepted a truck loaded with no fewer than 80 men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen at the Iwo Road area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Amotekun corps reportedly stopped the men, who were loaded in a truck, and a quick search revealed some bows, arrows and daggers in the vehicle.

Apart from that, sources told Punch that about 25 motorcycles in the truck also had cows.

Upon interrogation, the men were reported to have told the Amotekun operatives that they were going to Lagos and Ogun States.

The search was said to have attracted residents who trooped to the scene, but to avoid crisis, the security agents were said to have led the truck and its occupants to the police station at Testing Ground area in Iwo Road.

They were said to have been handed over to the police at the station for further interrogation and search.

Politics

El-Rufai Disagrees With Islamic Scholar, Gumi.

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Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday disagreed with prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Gumi, that the federal government should dialogue with bandits, instead of waging war against them.

After meeting with the bandits in the forest in Zamfara State, Sheikh Gumi had asked the federal government to use security budget to address the bandits’ demands, claiming that most of them had lost all their possessions to cattle rustling and extortion.
Governor el-Rufai in an interview with BBC Hausa, said the bandits should not be forgiven for taking arms against the country, stressing that they should also not be compensated.

He reiterated the fact that Kaduna was at war with the criminal elements, pointing out that ” my administration is at war with the bandits and so we cannot negotiate. Eliminating them is the only solution to banditry.”

El-Rufai added that the lack of unity among governors of the north-western states was also hindering the fight against banditry.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has reacted to Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s admission to the atrocities being committed by Fulani herdsmen across the country.

The Kaduna State Governor, had in an interview with the BBC Hausa, said that Fulani herdsmen who carry out banditry kill ‘mercilessly’ because they do not believe in religion.

Speaking further, Nnamdi Kanu noted that the entitlement mentality of the North caused the 1966 civil war and warned that the country is most likely to enter another one.

Politics

FG suspends meeting of UI Governing Council. Why?

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The Federal Ministry of Education has approved the suspension of all meeting of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

This was conveyed in a letter to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission by the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Mr. Sonny Echono on Monday.

DAILY INDEPENDENT recalls that following multiple allegations of malpractices, the selection process for the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor of the University was suspended in November last year and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Babatunde Ekanola was elected in acting capacity for the next six months

Politics

Buhari won’t accept Fani-Kayode – APC Governors

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The Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to admit former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, into the party.
This comes after pictures of a meeting between the APC National Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; and Fani-Kayode emerged.

It had led to rumours that Fani-Kayode might be preparing to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party.
“Do we want to reduce our party into one in which everybody is welcome?


“Can we for instance in anyway or form contemplate having an Nnamdi Kanu or Abubakar Shekau as a member?
“At this rate, Nigerians will just wake and see some of our leaders presenting Mr. Fani-Kayode to President Buhari as a new member of our party.
“Although, we can confidently argue that President Buhari will not approve such deranged possibility, it is important to caution that such consideration will be stretching the trust of party members beyond acceptable limits,” the statement read in part.
Fani-Kayode had earlier claimed his meeting with the APC chieftains was to discuss national issues and party politics.
The PDP chieftain also noted that Nigerians must set aside their differences, because the country was heading towards a civil war.

Lifestyle, Politics

Read how a member of the House of Representatives died

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The Member representing Aba North/ Aba South in the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Rt. Hon Ossy Prestige, is dead.

A family source explained that the late lawmaker died in a German hospital after being placed on life support for a very long time.

“He has been down with colon cancer for a very long time but his condition became worse after the federal government declared a total lockdown. He was initially flown to London and later moved to Germany,” said the family source who craved anonymity.

In a statement, the family described the death of Prestige as shocking, saying burial arrangements will be announced later.

“As it pleased the Lord and in total submission to His Will, but with heavy hearts, we announce the passing away of Hon. Prestige Ossy, the member representing the Aba North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State at the National Assembly whose transition to Higher Glory occurred in the wee hours of 7th February in Germany where he has been receiving treatment for the past months,” the statement read.

Hon Prestige Ossy

“In his death bed and up to his last days, his love for his uncommon people of Aba and Abia State found expression in words. He fought gallantly to live for his people but God decided to take him into rest in his bosom. Who are we to question God?

“As we continue with necessary arrangements to repatriate his remains and accord him a hero’s farewell that he eminently deserves, we shall endeavor to carry everybody along. May his soul rest in peace.”

Prestige, who clocked 56 in January, is the third member of the lower legislative chamber who died in the ninth assembly.

Politics

Amotekun arrests truck loaded with armed herdsmen heading into Ibadan

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Operatives of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, the Amotekun Corps, have announced the arrest of a truck loaded with armed herdsmen numbering about 80, heading into Ibadan, the state capital.

The Commandant of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), who confirmed the interception of the truck on Monday, said the Corps sighted the truck along the Iwo Road area of Ibadan, and on intercepting it, several dangerous weapons including bows, arrows, daggers, cows and 25 motorcycles were discovered hidden inside.

Olayanju added that upon interrogation, the men said they were heading for Lagos and Ogun States.

The search was said to have attracted residents who trooped to the scene but in a bid to avoid a crisis, the security agents led the truck and its occupants to the police station at Testing Ground area in Iwo Road, where they were handed over to the police for further investigations.

We arrested about 80 men in a truck. We found some bows and arrows and knifes in the truck. They also had some cows and motorcycles there.

“We couldn’t carry out a thorough search because we had started attracting attention, so we moved them to the police station nearby,” Olayanju said.

Also confirming the arrest of the armed herdsmen, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olugbenga Fadeyi, said though the police received the suspects, there was nothing incriminating found on them and were later released:

Some people were intercepted and they were taken to Agodi Police Station where they were profiled. They said they were coming from Wudil in Kano and were going to Lagos and some to Ogun State. They said they were taking the cows to the abattoir in Agege, Lagos.

“We didn’t find anything incriminating on them. They were released and escorted to the Toll Gate area on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. They are no longer in Oyo State territory.”

Politics, World News

History to be made in US, as Trump’s impeachment trial begins

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The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump which begins on Tuesday, February 8, is set to be an historic event in the politics of the United States as no president has ever been impeached twice or put on trial.

The trial is seen as an “undertaking like no other in US history” as the defeated former president is being charged with inciting the violent mob attack on the Capitol Building on January 6, to overturn the election in what prosecutors have argued was the “most grievous constitutional crime,” likened to a coup.

Trump’s lawyers have insisted that he is not guilty of the sole charge of “incitement of insurrection,” saying his words to the protesters were mere figures of speech, even as he encouraged a rally crowd to “fight like hell” for his presidency.

Trump, who is the first US president to face charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors while in office, has continued to challenge the nation’s civic norms and traditions even in defeat.

Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol as the Senators begin proceedings. And while acquittal is likely, the trial will test the US’s attitude toward Trump’s brand of presidential power, the Democrats’ resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trump’s Republican allies defending him.

Trump’s defenders are also preparing to challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he was to blame for the insurrection. They suggest that Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, asserted that Trump had “betrayed the American people” and there is no valid excuse or defense.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States government, which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president,” the Democrats insisted.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, the trial will begin with a debate and vote on whether it is constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president, an argument that could resonate with Republicans keen on voting to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon on Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.

After that, there will be hours for deliberations, witnesses and closing arguments. The trial was set to break on Friday evening for the Jewish Sabbath, but Trump’s defense team, concerned about the delay, withdrew the request, and now the trial can continue into the weekend and next week.

Politics

Lagos govt auctions 83 impounded vehicles

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Lagos State government on Monday auctioned 83 vehicles seized from traffic offenders in the state.

The exercise was conducted by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the state’s Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences.

The task force impounded the vehicles in various parts of Lagos after their owners contravened the state’s traffic rules and regulations.

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit secured had last month secured a court’s order to auction the vehicles.

The exercise which took place at the task force premises in Alausa, Ikeja, was witnessed by the chairman of the task force, CSP Shola Jejeloye; the Coordinator of the State Special Offences Mobile Court, Mrs. Arinola Ogbara, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and some residents of the state.

In his address, Jejeloye said the exercise was a corrective measure and not aimed at punishing anybody.

He said: “I do not see what we have come to do today as an auction but as a correction and deterrent for some Lagosians. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police has instructed us to go out there as policemen and do our best and ensure a free flow of traffic.”

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