The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abdulkarim Lawan has faulted the claim made by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and Gen Gabriel Olonisakin, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), that all the 27 Local Government Areas in the state have been liberated from the stronghold of Boko Haram.
Lawan who faulted the claim on Monday while speaking at a Concerned Stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri, said that terrorists were in full control of the Guzamala Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmaker further stressed that the entire Guzamala Local Government area where he hailed from, is still under the control of the Boko Haram sect as there is no existence of civil life in the area.
“There is no single existence of civil life in Guzamala, not to even talk of Military presence in the Council Headquarter and its surrounding communities. All the area is dominated by armed Boko Haram Fighters,” Lawan said.
He also added that he has been agitating for military presence in Guzamala to enable his displaced people take advantage of Gov. Babagana Zulum’s move in reconstruction and resettlement, but to no avail, as Guzamala is still a ‘no go area’.
“We have a total of 774 Local Government areas in Nigeria, we in Guzamala Council want the Federal Government to tell us whether Guzalama has been cancelled out of the 774 so that we can know our position and look for the option,” Lawan said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief at the passing of his longtime ally, friend, political loyalist and former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh.
Reacting to the passage, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, Buhari said: Momoh stood with him through thick and thin.
“His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him,” he added.
The president recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) Campaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections, Momoh ”contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organisations.”
Late Prince Tony Momoh.
Late Momoh was also onetime Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He noted that Momoh’s contributions led to the eventual formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to appear on February 4 over his continued disobedience to court order. He is expected to show cause why contempt charge should not be filed against him which might land him in prison.
The court summon was said to have been served on Adamu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu issued the summon against the IGP following his alleged refusal to reinstate a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Patrick Okoli, who was forcefully retired. The court had set aside the forceful retirement of Okoli on the ground that due process was not followed. The court had also imposed a fine of N10m as punitive cost against the police authorities
Although the police had contested the Federal High Court judgment at the Court of Appeal, it lost as the appellate court affirmed the decision of the lower court.
Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu
In compliance with the Court of Appeal decision, DCP Okoli was reinstated via a letter and in another letter was again retired compulsorily.
Justice Ojukwu after listening to arguments canvassed by Arinze Solomon Eggo, counsel for the applicant, issued an order directing the IGP to appear before her court on Thursday February 4.
The governor said the forum supported the move to flush out herdsmen, cultists, kidnappers and bandits from various forests in the region.
The Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, has warned against the use of fake messages, essentially video, to instigate a crisis between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the herdsmen. Governor Umahi gave the warning on Monday during the All Progressives Congress stakeholders’ meeting held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
The governor said the forum supported the move to flush out herdsmen, cultists, kidnappers and bandits from various forests in the region.
He also re-affirmed that the zone had banned open grazing of cattle essentially by foot. He enjoined leaders in the zone to exhibit patriotism in their conduct to guarantee the country’s unity.
He said, “Dissemination of fake videos alleging the killing of Fulanis by IPOB in the South-East should stop.
“What our people must know is that security is not political. What is demanded of the leaders is to put up programs that favour the people and foster national unity.
“In our forests today, we have kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, all sorts of criminals. Anybody staying in the forest is taking a risk. When we say that people should move out of the forests, it is for their safety and security.
“So, I support that kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, and bandits should be flushed out of our forests.
“Also, governors of the South East have been calling on our leaders to speak out on the security of the zone and unity of Nigeria.
“I read on paper where someone said he was giving governors of the South East seven days to ban open grazing. The South-East governors had banned open grazing and movement of cows by foot into the South East, in each of the South-East states.
“So, we are managing ourselves well; what we discussed with the herdsmen is that the system has been in place for a long time.
“We live in a dangerous time, without patriotism to our nation Nigeria, it is tough to have a peaceful time,” he explained. Highlights of the meeting were the adoption of LGA nominees for federal board appointments and empowerment among others.
The Nollywood actor is contesting under the banner of All Progressive Grand Alliance Party (APGA) for the state governor in the general election that is taking place this year 2021. The power tussle is expected to be between the three topmost parties of APGA, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). See picture of his poster below:
Recall that INEC had fixed November 6th of this year as the date for the conduct of the Anambra Governorship election. Constitutionally and statutorily, the tenure of the present governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano will expire on March 17, 2022 and the earliest date for the Election into the office of Governor, Anambra, shall be October 18, 2021 and the latest date for the election shall be February 15, 2022.
The chances for the actor to become triumphant in the general state general election is high, if he eventually become the flag bearer of the party after primary election. The actor is very popular among his people as a talented actor, that always featured as a hit man, criminals or lead role in several movies.
The 36-year-old Zubby Micheal, political career begun when he was appointed by the present governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, as a Special Adviser on Media On 25 November 2019. He is now determined to become the governor of the state this year.
The youths are now clamoring for the position of leadership from the old folks that are not willing to leave the sits across the country. Just like the Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said recently, the youths needs to wake up and take the political scene from the old leaders.
Kebbi APC assures new members of seamless registration
Jigawa State House of Assembly has sanctioned one of its members, Musa Dutse, representing Dutse Constituency, for berating Governor Mohammed Abubakar and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the Speaker, Idris Jahun, the lawmaker has been relieved of his position as Chairman, House Committee on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In an interview with Freedom Radio, Dutse, the sanctioned legislator had said: “It is a pity that we, in Jigawa, lack a charismatic governor with the capacity and public experience to lead as far as good governance is concerned.
“We are not comfortable with his style of leadership, as things are not going in the right perspectives. His poor posture has made things to go haphazardly.”
Dutse also stated the APC and its leaders had failed woefully, as its mode of operation was far below expectation. MEANWHILE, the APC in Kebbi State has said that necessary arrangements have been concluded for seamless registration of new members and revalidation of the existing members of the party.
While briefing newsmen at the Press Centre, Government House, Birnin Kebbi, yesterday, the Caretaker Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sani Dododo, said the registration and revalidation would soon commence nationwide for three categories of membership.
He said that existing members would have their registration revalidated and a new membership card issued to them.
“Any person, who has attained 18 years and above, interested in joining the APC would be registered and issued with membership card.
Similarly, members of other political parties who might wish to defect to the APC would be duly accepted and registered,” he added.
The PRO announced that committees had already been set up at polling units, wards, council and state levels for the exercise.
Dododo commended all APC supporters in the state for their loyalty and unflinching support to the party.
He appealed to them to troop out for the revalidation of their membership of the party and invited new members to join the APC.
The crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be short-lived as the two major actors, former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former senator Kabiru Marafa were on Monday reconciled.
The leaders of the two main factions accepted to sheath their swords in the interest of the party after a reconciliation meeting which lasted more than two hours facilitated by the National Chairman, APC Caretaker / Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.
The crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be short-lived as the two major actors, former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former senator Kabiru Marafa were on Monday reconciled.
The leaders of the two main factions accepted to sheath their swords in the interest of the party after a reconciliation meeting which lasted more than two hours facilitated by the National Chairman, APC Caretaker / Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.
Briefing journalists after the parley, Buni described the reconciliation efforts as a milestone in achieving his Committee’s mandate of reconciling and rebuilding the party.
Mai Mala Buni said “as you can see today, we are able to achieve reconciliation of our stakeholders in Zamfara State and by extension is the reconciliation of the entire Zamfara APC as a family.
“With this, we have achieved a milestone as Caretaker Committee of this great party, our primary mandate being reconciliation of our members across the country and rebuilding and repositioning of this party at all levels”.
Assuring party leadership that the rift is over, former governor Abdulaziz Yari said he is genuinely committed to the foregoing past misgivings between himself and Marafa in recent years and look forward to uniting all aggrieved stakeholders with the aim of regaining Zamfara State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
He said “this meeting lasted for not more than two to three hours and alot of things have been discussed but the most important of what is being discussed, understanding our coming together is paramount for any success now and in the future.
“We have built this party from zero level to where we are and Zamfara has ever remain ANPP- APC State and what led to that success is our coming together. So that togetherness is what we’re working to achieve in the future and this is the starting point.
“This is not symbolic, it’s real that we understand all of us are human beings bound to make mistakes and that mistakes can be corrected so that we can come together to achieve a target and go and bring back our party to limelight in the State and also to maintain in the center.
“A lot of things have been said but the most important thing is we are together and this is the begining and what happened in the past will never repeat itself ”.
Senator Kabiru Marfa said he embraced the reconciliatory efforts of the party leadership having realised that reconciliation is an integral part of every human endeavour.
Promising that the over two years crisis will strengthen APC in the state, Marafa said “I hope our own mistake will serve as a source of strength for all of us and for APC itself especially and the country in general.
“Our country is facing very serious challenges. Our party was given an unprecedented support that has never been given any party in Nigeria and we owe the party and Mr President a duty to support them and support Mr President to deliver especially for us coming from Zamfara State and the North West in particular we are facing very serious problems and for that reason I think no amount of effort will be too much.
“I received a call from my my friend and leader, the Governor of Yobe State to come and attend a meeting.
Despite the short notice, I felt anybody that calls you for reconciliation meeting, he or she calls you to goodness and I attended because of that reason and I’m very happy with the robust decisions or discussions rather that we had in the office.
“I want to use this medium to tell Nigerians today we initiated the process, let me put it that way because we are not the only people we have behind us and these people have absolute confidence in all of us.
“So today marks the very beginning in the chapter of APC in Zamfara State and I hope, given the assurances that I heard from various speakers during the meeting that at the end of the tunnel we would see light.
“I thank Nigerians for understanding with all of us especially during the period of crisis and for our supporters back home I want to assure all of them that both of us are committed to their welfare and their progress we sleep with them in our hearts and we wake up with them in our hearts.
“We may not necessarily measure up to their expectations because we are human beings and Zamfara is over 4 million people so there is no way we can please each and every one of them but I want to use this medium to tell them that we will do our utmost best all of us here to make sure that we carry majority of them in whatever decision we are going to take and God is going to see us through”.
The Daily Times recalled that the supremacy battle between the two leaders led to the loss of Zamfara, an APC traditional state to the Governor Bello Matawalle led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the last governorship election.
At the peak of the crisis, Marafa ditched the party for the PDP and allegedly worked against the APC at the polls.
Reno Omokri who was the former special assistant to former president Goodluck Jonathan, has once again spoken. In recent days, Reno Omokri has spoken on several issues.
According to a tweet he recently made, he stated that the Eastern Security Network ESN is taking on herdsmen in Isiukwuato in Abia State, Sunday Igboho on the other hand is taking on herdmen too in Igagan, Oyo State. The on the same vain, Amotekun is also taking on herdmen in Ondo State.
Reno went on and stated that if the government fails to protect Nigerians, we have the right to protect ourselves. He ended by asking if we must allow ourselves to be killed to prove our patriotism.
The Yoruba self-acclaimed activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Monday stormed troubled areas in Yewaland, Ogun State, insisting that killer – herdsmen must vacate Yorubaland.
Daily Trust reports that Igboho had recently visited Fulani settlement in Igangan, Oyo State, where he ‘displaced’ the Seriki Fulani, Saliu Abdulkadir and his household, a development which had attracted hues and cries nationwide.
Igboho alongside his supporters had stormed Abeokuta, the state capital, in continuation of his campaign against the suspected killer-herdsmen in the Southwest.
The self-acclaimed activist who stopped briefly in the state capital headed to some trouble areas in Yewaland in Ogun West Senatorial district.
Igboho also visited some other troubled areas including Eggua, Asa and Eseluland following their plights in the hands of herdsmen.
While addressing his followers in Abeokuta, he insisted that killer – herdsmen must be flushed out of Yorubaland.
“I observe there is an injustice from the herdsmen because they know the power that be in the federal government. They behave like Yoruba are nobody. They killed our people, they kidnapped our people, they raped our women.
“Any Fulani herdsman who engages in kidnapping would be flushed out .”
When asked whether he would limit his activism to Igangan, Igboho said , “Not only Igangan, we are going to visit all Yoruba land and ensure there is peace everywhere .”
He however lauded the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun for ‘allowing’ him in the state.
He said “The reasons for our visit to Ogun state is to flush out the killers herdsmen. We have not visited the governor, we will do that after we have flushed the Fulani herdsmen out of the state.
“Let us thank God and the governor of the state, he said himself that he wants us to come and send the killer herdsmen out. His action shows that he loves the people of Ogun state, if he does not love the people of Ogun state he would not have allowed us to come to the state .”
‘I didn’t invite him’
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun has denied seeking Igboho’s help in the fight against insecurity in the state.
Abiodun in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Waheed Odusile said he didn’t enlist Igboho to combat crime in the state.
The governor was silent on the Igboho’s Monday visit, but denied earlier report credited to the Special Adviser on Public Communication, Remmy Hazzan, on welcoming the Yoruba activist to the state.
“At all times, the Government will ensure that all security agencies and indeed all stakeholders operate within the ambit of the law and will neither welcome nor endorse any initiative that amounts to self-help or is outside the contemplation of the constitution, which is the grundnorm binding on all governments and persons in the country,” the governor said.
He added that the government would continue to attract and welcome all those with legitimate reasons to live, work and even play in the State, saying that “it is home to all Nigerians and foreigners alike.”
He, however, advised the residents to continue to go about their normal businesses
Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho on Monday, stormed some parts of Ogun State and vowed to flush out killer herdsmen in the troubled areas in the state.Igboho, who stopped briefly in Abeokuta around 4pm and had a brief interaction with his supporters, later proceeded to Ketuland where some soldiers allegedly connived with herdsmen to flog some farmers for not allowing them grazing their cattle on their farms in Yewa-North Local Government Area of the state.
While addressing his followers in Abeokuta, the activist said, “I observe there is an injustice from the herdsmen because they know the power that they have in the Federal Government. So, they behave as if Yoruba people are nobody. They kill our people, they kidnap our people, and they rape our women.”
“Any Fulani herdsman who engages in kidnapping would be flushed out,” Igboho vowed.
When asked whether he would limit his activism to Igangan, his hometown in Oyo State, Igboho said, “Not only Igangan, we are going to visit all Yorubaland and ensure there is peace everywhere.”
The activist lauded the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, for allowing him in the state.Appreciating the gesture, the activist said, “We have not visited the governor, we will do that after we have flushed the Fulani herdsmen out of the state.
“I am going to Yewa because that is where the Fulani are wreaking havoc.”
As the current Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, retires Monday (today), a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the appointment of a new one would not be ethnicity or religion based.Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily show, the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said, on Monday, that the security agencies have a system of producing their leaders.
He said, “If you are going to appoint the service chiefs from every ethnic group in this country, you are going to have more than 250 Inspectors-General of Police, 250 Chiefs of Army Staff, 250 Chiefs of Naval Staff.“It’s not going to work like that. And they have their own systems of producing leadership.“If we say we are going to use ethnicity or region as the basis, then we have lost it. This is about law and order, it is not about ethnic identity. This country finished with tribalism in the 1960s, why are we back to it now?“But if you have two, three positions – look at what happened with the service chiefs just appointed: two from the South, two from the North. If you are talking about religion, two Muslims, two Christians. So what do you want again?”“The President will rather have an Inspector-General of Police who will make you and me safer, protect lives and property than one who is more pronounced by his tribal marks,” he said.
A former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba on Monday declared that it would not be a bad idea for the North to secede from Nigeria with all that the region has going for it at the moment.
Garba who filed a suit last year against the founder of Twitter International Company, Jack Dorsey for allegedly sponsoring the #EndSARS protests that rocked some cities in Nigeria, made the declaration on his Instagram page on Monday.
According to Garba who also listed the benefits the Northern region has over other parts of Nigeria, many regions in the country will suffer if the North decides to break-away.
The politician also added in the post on social media that the greatest undoing of the secessionist groups would be the ”hatred” towards the Fulanis and everything North once the region pulls out of ”the Union called Nigeria”.
Garba wrote thus in part on his Instagram page; ”Looking at everything, it’s not all together a bad thing for the North to secede from Nigeria.
“The North is the only region in Nigeria that practically have everything, yet its people suffer the most, with most hope dashed, gross underproductive young population and betrayal of the elites.
“The North is the single largest supplier of raw materials in all Nigerian industries, from food, the cloths to shelter through cements and other building materials available in the Northern rocks.
“The North have Gold, Silver, Diamond, Tin, copper, lime, gypsum, coal, magnesium, potassium etc and even uranium in abundance all over the area.
“A liter of groundnut oil and cotton is more expensive that the liter of oil, and it has unimaginable chain value for production in different industries, from pharmaceuticals to detergents etc.
“The cows that some few people condemn is over 20M in number in Nigeria, when properly harnessed and utilize, if a quarter of this number can produce a liter of milk a day, it means the North will have 5M liters of milk per day, each liter is N350, much more that a liter of fuel. This notwithstanding the endless value chain of milk processing in different industries. A cow, from its feeds to all parts of its body including its dungs is a source of value, thus a cow is a wealth in all ramifications. All we need is to harness its value.
“The north have river Niger, connecting all the way from Guinea mountains to, over Kebbi, Niger, Kogi and Deltas as it approaches the Ocean where it’s called the Niger-Delta. The North can still reach the ocean through Borgu to Benin republic down to Atlantic Ocean. More students from the North studied in the Benin universities than the indigenes of Benin and more Northern traders travel to Cotonou than any other Nigerians, hence a trade pact will be easy for the North.
“The North can dredge the River Niger through Benin and connect to the Atlantic Ocean or create a super highway through Niger Republic to Guinea down to Atlantic Ocean, thus the North have more ways to access the ocean than all other regions in Nigeria.
“The North controls the flow of the river Niger. If the North chose to erect a barricade for the flow of river Niger to the east, all the rivers like Imo river, Onisha river, rivers in the delta with drinkable water and fresh fish will cease and the water flow will dry up. All the North need to do is to create artificial lake and reservoirs to use the water for agriculture and power generation.
“The North have all the major forests in Nigeria, From Borgu Forests, to Felgore Forest, to Yankari Forest to Gashaka Forest to Sambisa Forest down, which have the longest stretch to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya through central Africa. Thus the North have it all.
“The North have the river Benue, which flow through practically all states in the North eastern Nigeria to middle belt, flowing from Faro to Gerio to lake Doe and lake Chad, linking Cameroon and Chad to the east, Niger and Benin to the West, one of the longest River strings in Africa, all nosing at the North,” he added.
Recall that there was a video Nnamdi Kanu shared on his Facebook wall where the officers of the Eastern Security Network were seen chasing away the Fulani Herdsmen in Isiukwuato village in Abia state. The video revealed the members of the ESN brutally slaughtering the cows of the herders without mercy.
Senator Shehu Sani who was the former senatorial representative of Kaduna central senatorial zone, while reacting to the video said, “It is painful to see how the members of the Kanu’s Eastern Security Network brutally slaughtered the cows of herders in Isiukwuato areas of Abia state. The ugly incidence is such that should not be allowed to happen again by the Federal Government”.
“The Federal Government should set up plans on allowing the herdsmen to set up and establish their grazing ranches in the North, rather than leaving them at the mercies of such brutal attack with their cows. To maintain peace, unity and order in this country, the president should allow the herders to settle in the North”.
Nigerians on seeing the response of Senator Sank to the incidence provided photos of where people’s businesses where destroyed without compensation in Kano and asked the Senator what he had to say concerning that one.
Frontline activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has blasted the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and his Eastern Security Network (ESN), over a video the group posted on Saturday where members of the security outfit were seen chasing after some herdsmen and killing dozens of cows in the process.
Kanu had posted a video on his Facebook page of the security outfit’s invasion of the camp of the herdsmen in Isiukwuato, Abia State, where they chased out the herdsmen and killed some cows in the enclave.
In the video, the ESN operatives were also seen burning houses and cows belonging to the herdsmen.
On his Facebook page, Kanu had written:
“Video of men at work last night across all the towns and villages of the old Bende Division, especially Isiukwuato.
“ESN has commenced the combing of parts of Isiukwuato forests last night and engagement with the enemy is ongoing and will continue until they no longer present a threat to our communities along that axis.”
In reacting to the post on her Twitter handle on Monday, Yesufu described the situation as unacceptable and warned that Kanu and ESN were taking the laws into his hands as no one in the country has a monopoly of violence.
In the tweet, the activist wrote:
“This is absolutely not acceptable. We cannot have security outfits taking laws into their hands & maiming, killing & destroying properties. This is not acceptable.
“We must always remember no one has a monopoly of violence and intolerance and we can all be mad. Let the law guide us!”
In another tweet, she wrote: “Police will kill, they will have supporters. Soldiers will kill, they will have supporters. Hisbah will destroy people’s beers, they will have supporters. Amotekun will kill, they will have supporters. Eastern Security Network will kill cows, they will have supporters
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to name a new Inspector-General of Police as the incumbent police chief, Mohammed Adamu, is due to take a bow out of service on Monday, multiple sources told Daily Trust on Sunday.
As the president’s action is being awaited, prominent socio-cultural groups and civil society organisations have called on the president to do the right thing and stick to the rule of law in taking his decision.
While the IGP’s days in the police are officially up, on account of attaining 35 years in service, the president has the prerogative to extend his stay.
But informed sources told our reporters last night that the president is unlikely to give Adamu the fiat to stay beyond his statutory service age.
A top source at the Presidency treveals that Adamu is expected to hand over to the most senior police officer, in the event no announcement was made before the end of Monday.
“This is a post that has limit. If a position like that is given to you, the expectation is one leaves at the due date except if there is an instruction to the contrary. Right now there is no such communication,” he said.
Multiple sources told one of our reporters that Adamu’s fate was sealed on Wednesday after the president was briefed on the vacancy in the police top post by Minister of Police Affairs Maigari Dingyadi, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
It has been gathered that the minister presented a shortlist of Deputy Inspector-Generals (DGIs) and Assistant Inspector-Generals (AIGs) to the president for his consideration.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ehisienmen Osaigvo, did not respond to a request for comments on this story last night. Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, declined comment when contacted by our reporter.
But a credible security source explained that the presidency had directed the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Department of States Security (DSS) to prepare confidential briefings on seven senior police officers on the rank of DIG and AIG.
Course mates of IGP Adamu, serving in various positions in the Police Force, had reportedly vacated their offices as of Sunday night.
Sources in Abuja and other places said the IGP’s mates, including a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), DIG Ibrahim Lamorde, DIG Michael Anthony Ogbizi, and AIG Mohammad Mustafa, have emptied their offices in preparation for quitting the Force on Monday.
Despite these developments, Adamu is said to be still staying foot in his post with some of his promoters calling for a six month extension for him.
Checks Sunday night indicated that Adamu was still occupying the IGP’s official residence in Maitama, Abuja, while he was yet to vacate his office.
A source at the Ministry of Police Affairs told one of our reporters that the presidency would announce a new acting inspector general of police on Monday.
“Everything is concluded, you should just wait for the appointment from the Villa,” the source who asked not to be named for fear of sanctions explained.
A gun battle between militant Islamists and Somali security forces at a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, is now over.
At least five people were killed in the attack at the Afrik Hotel, which began with a car bomb on Sunday.
Al-Shabab said it was responsible. The group, which is linked to al-Qaeda, regularly carries out attacks against the government.
At least four attackers also died – according to AFP news agency three were shot and one blew himself up.
A car hit the hotel’s front entrance and detonated before gunmen stormed the building, according to officials and others at the scene.
“The blast made the hotel tremble as we sat inside and were talking. We were panicked, confused,” eyewitness Ahmed Nur was quoted by Reuters as saying.
“The operation is over now. Nine people, including four attackers, died and over 10 civilians were injured. There is no electricity,” a police spokesman told reporters from the scene and via Facebook.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble said in a statement that among those killed was a former military general, Mohamed Nur Galal.
image captionAmbulances have been pictured near the scene of the bomb attack
The militants targeted the Afrik Hotel despite the fact that it is in a heavily guarded area near the city’s main airport, the BBC’s Bella Sheegow reported from Mogadishu.
The hotel is known to be a gathering place for Somali government officials. A local police captain said a number of lawmakers and senior military officials were inside at the time of the attack.
Footage on social media showed large plumes of smoke rising across the city earlier on Sunday.
Our reporter says it was one of the most devastating recent attacks in Mogadishu. Al-Shabab also targeted the beachside Elite hotel last year resulting in a seven-hour battle with police and security in which 17 people were killed.
The violent siege comes just weeks after former US President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of some 700 troops who had been supporting local security forces against militant groups, including al-Shabab.
There are fears the withdrawal could lead to further instability in the country, which is due to hold elections next month.
The Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the Government House in Osogbo.
The duo discussed the current security situation in Nigeria and other major national issues at the meeting.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, disclosed this on his Twitter handle.
He wrote: “The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on Sunday visited Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to confer with him on emerging national issues.
“On hand to receive him at the Government House, Osogbo, were the First Lady, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Ayotunde Olabomi.”
Oyetola was one of the 10 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors that accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari to the party’s registration centre for his revalidation of the party’s membership in Daura, Katsina, on Saturday.
The Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, on Sunday directed all court staff across the state to undergo the COVID-19 test.
In a statement issued by Chief Registrar of the State’s High Court, M. A Lasisi, the chief judge also ordered all staff below Grade Level 12 to work from home.
The directive followed the discovery of the United Kingdom COVID-19 variant in Osun State.
The state government had earlier on Sunday confirmed the discovery of five cases of the UK COVID-19 variant in the state.
The statement read: “I have the instruction of the Honourable Chief Judge of Osun State to convey to you the need to comply with the new COVID-19 protocols just released by the state government.
“Hence, all staff of the judiciary below Level 12 are hereby directed to stay at, and work from home, to contain the spread of the pandemic.
“All staff affected should stop coming to work with effect from Monday, 1st February 2021. Furthermore, all staff of Osun State Judiciary should undergo the COVID-19 test immediately.
“Osun State Government is gracious enough to be conducting the tests free of charge. All courtrooms and offices where the affected officer is working should be closed down forthwith until further notice.”
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has stated why the immediate past security chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari failed in their task of securing the nation.
Governor Wike who was speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics said that the security chiefs did not do well because they lost focus and delved into politics.
Wike therefore cautioned the newly appointed service chiefs to shun politics and avoid the path of their predecessors.
He said; “Instead of concentrating on the security of the nation, the service chiefs were very much involved in politics.
“This was the problem we had with the previous chiefs, they were involved in politics rather than face the security of the nation.
“Nobody can deny that fact; the moment you politicize security, then you are bound to have problems,” Wike added.
According to him, no meaningful changes will be seen from the new appointees if they toe the path of their predecessors.
He said, “The new people that are appointed must ask themselves, what is our agenda? Is our agenda to continue with where the last service chiefs stopped, or to make sure we improve?”
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday banned gatherings of more than 50 persons in the state.
The governor, who announced this while giving an update on the COVID-19 situation in Lagos, however, added that religious organizations are exempted from the directive.
He added that the order was in line with the new COVID-19 safety protocols signed last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governor said: “The state government has observed with dismay the widespread flagrant disregard and non-adherence to guidelines and protocols aimed at stemming and curbing the tide of COVID-19 infection.
“We particularly note that some event centres have been operating their premises outside the acceptable parameters for operation/usage and continue to be recalcitrant in this regard.
“This is to sound a very serious note of warning that henceforth all those found culpable and in breach of the existing regulations and guidelines would be swiftly and decisively dealt with in full accordance with the provisions of the law.
“Furthermore, and in line with the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 signed last week by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is hereby directed that no gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 percent capacity of the space.”
Sanwo-Olu stressed that violation of the provisions of the presidential regulations on COVID-19 attracts a fine, six months imprisonment, or both.
He added: “Our enforcement agencies have been appropriately tasked to ensure maximum compliance.
“All Lagosians are enjoined to continue to observe all laid down guidelines and protocols issued by both the state and Federal Governments for the effective containment and treatment of the COVID-19.”
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