BREAKING: Trump Imposes New Travel Ban On Nigeria, Five Other Countries

President Donald Trump has imposed a new travel ban restricting immigration from Nigeria, and five other countries in an expansion of his administration’s policy blocking travel from certain nations.
In line with the new policy, citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar, and Kyrgyzstan won’t be allowed to apply for visas to immigrate to the U.S.

According to the US government, the policy was designed to tighten security for countries that don’t comply with the U.S. minimum security standards or cooperate to prevent illegal immigration.
The Wall Street Journal reports that in line with the policy, two other countries, Sudan and Tanzania, will be barred from participating in the diversity visa lottery, which randomly awards green cards to 50,000 immigrants from underrepresented countries annually.

According to US officials, the new restrictions are set to take effect on Feb 21 and will apply only to new visa applications. Immigrants who were issued valid visas before that date will still be able to move to the U.S.

Nigeria and the five other countries listed will join a list of seven nations that faced significant travel restrictions under President Trump’s original travel ban which was issued earlier in 2017.

US Embassy says it did not deny Bishop Oyedepo visa

The United States Embassy in Nigeria on Friday said claims that it denied the general overseer of Living Faith Bible Church Bishop David Oyedo visa were “manufactured”.

“Be advised, the reports making the rounds about a visa being denied to Nigerian Bishop Oyedepo are false,” US Embassy tweeted on Friday.
The United States Embassy in Nigeria on Friday said claims that it denied the general overseer of Living Faith Bible Church Bishop David Oyedo visa were “manufactured”.

“Be advised, the reports making the rounds about a visa being denied to Nigerian Bishop Oyedepo are false,” US Embassy tweeted on Friday.
“If you have seen this manufactured item in the media, help defeat this misinformation by communicating to everyone that it is completely false.”

JUST IN: NYSC approves N33, 000 monthly allowance for corps members

      Jubilation after the announcement

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has increased the monthly allowance of corps members to N33, 000.
Corps members were getting N19, 800 until the latest review.

Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, announced the increase during a working visit to the NYSC secretariat in Bauchi.
He said the increase is in line with the new minimum wage approved by the federal government.

In a statement on the official Facebook page of NYSC, Ibrahim informed provisions for the new allowance have been made in the 2020 budget and “payment would commence as soon as funds are released by the appropriate authorities”.

The DG had pledged the monthly allowance of corps members would be increased “immediately the federal government starts the payment of the new minimum wage”.
“Your monthly allowance would be increased immediately the Federal Government starts the payment of the new minimum wage to all public servants nationwide,” he said in an address delivered at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

“Efforts are in top gear at all levels to ensure adequate welfare for all corps members.”

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new minimum wage bill into law in April 2019.

BREAKING: Fire Guts Plaza In Balogun Market

A plaza inside Balogun market, located on Lagos Island is currently on fire.

The name of the burning plaza is Anambra Plaza at Martins area of the market.

Detail later........

15 feared dead, 38 injured in Ogun auto crash

Fifteen people were feared dead while 38 others sustained injuries, yesterday, in Ogun State, in a lone accident involving a Mitsubishi bus that fell into a ditch.

It was gathered that the accident occurred about 7.30 am on Omen Bridge along Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan highway, Oru-Ijebu due to overspeeding on the part of the bus driver with number plate XE 331MKA travelling from Sokoto inbound Ijebu-Ode.

Vanguard gathered that apart from the 65 male passengers on board, the bus was loaded with guinea fowls meant to be deposited at a farm in Ijebu-Ode when the accident occurred.

An eyewitness said fifteen passengers lost their lives on the spot, thirty-eight sustained varying degrees of injuries while twelve were rescued unhurt.

He added that the injured were taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital for medical attention, the dead bodies were taken to Sabo for burial on the request of the Hausa community.


It was gathered that the bus driver was among the casualties.
The rescue operation was jointly carried out by Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE; Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Nigeria Police and other relevant agencies.

The incident was said to have affected the free flow of traffic in the axis but the law enforcement agents did the needful.

TRACE Public Affairs Officer, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the development, attributed it to wrongful overtaking by the bus driver.

Akinbiyi, who commiserated with the affected families, also appealed to motorists to avoid over-speeding, especially on narrow roads and edge of bridges, more so with poor visibility occasioned by the harmattan season.

Man dies during sex in Abuja hotel

A lady, Miss Victory Amaize, has been arrested and detained by the Police operatives at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja after she reportedly engaged a man, Danjuma Yahaya Alli, in marathon sex in a popular hotel and he eventually died on top of her.

Victory was said to be facing murder charges based on Police suspect that she might have engaged the deceased, Danjuma Yahaya Alli, in marathon sex that eventually caused his death.

The alleged tragedy was exposed after the Chief Security Officer of the hotel, Onyido Sule, went to the Police at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, on 22nd January 2020, reported that a lady, Victory Amaize, from Life Camp in Abuja, screamed from her hotel room to the management over what happened.


The management rushed to the room and found Danjuma Yahaya Alli gasping for breath on the bed. He was rushed to the hospital where the doctors confirmed him dead.

BREAKING: Maryam Sanda sentenced to death for killing husband

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Monday found Maryam Sanda guilty of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Ms Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging by the judge.

The Nigerian police charged Ms Sanda for culpable homicide in November 2017, and sought the death penalty against the accused in a two count charge.

The victim, Mr Bello, was the son of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello.

Justice Yusuf Halilu said there was compelling evidence to convict the accused.

The judge dismissed Ms Sanda’s statement that her husband fell on a broken Shisha pot during a fight on the ill-fated day as a “smokescreen to deceive the court”.

He said available evidence proved that the accused stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife with intent to ” kill”.

As the judge pronounced Ms Sanda guilty, the accused attempted to run out of the court room while her relatives started shouting, causing an uproar in an attempt to draw public sympathy and soft landing.

Breaking news: Senatorial Candidate Shot Dead By NSCDC Official In Imo

Mr Ndubuisi Emenike the Action Alliance (AA’s) candidate in the Imo North Senatorial District in the 2019 National Assembly election, has been shot dead by an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Imo state Police command confirmed the killing on Sunday, January 26, 2020.

Speaking on the developing issue, police spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu told journalists that Mr Emenike was shot dead by the NSCDC official during a celebration party held in honour of APC’s Miriam Onuoha the winner of the Okigwe North Federal Constituency.
The said NSCDC operative is said to have been attached to the AA Senatorial candidate and had escorted him to the victory party.

Witnesses say NSCDC official was shooting consistently into the air and mistakenly shot his boss, disrupting the party which was already underway.

Mr Emenikr fell and lost consciousness and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.

Police say the NSCDC official is presently in custody even as the command has launched an investigation into the ugly incident.

The death of Ndubuisi Emenike is coming few weeks after the death of Senator Ben Uwajimogu who also contested and won the Imo North senatorial district election in 2019.

Raging Fire Guts Amu Plank Market Mushin Lagos

Raging Fire Guts Amu Plank Market Mushin Lagos

A midnight fire outbreak has razed popular Amu plank and building material market at the Mushin area of Lagos state.

The source of the fire remains unknown but the fire has since destroyed many shops and planks in the market.

According to the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osayintolu, properties worth billions of Naira, including two houses, have been consumed in the 2200 sqm market by the raging inferno.
Officials of the state and Federal Fire service are battling the fire to salvage the market from complete ruin.

The fire which started at around 12:20 am spread with intensity due to the presence of plywood/asbestos, wooden and polyvinyl materials

Several efforts have been deployed to put out the fire and efforts are ongoing.

Edo APC crisis: Hoodlums set ablaze Oshiomhole’s rally venue

A venue to be used by National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for a political rally in Auchi, Estako West local government area has been set ablaze by suspected thugs.
The rally was to receive some defectors into the APC.

Two cars, over 1000 chairs, canopies and the stage were burnt.

It was gathered that the suspected thugs carried out the act at about 2am.

Sources said shots were fired before the place was set ablaze

The rally was to hold at a field owned by a private individual.
Factional Chairman of APC in the locality, Alhaji Abubakar Akokhia, said the rally would still hold despite activities of the suspected thugs.

It was learnt that heavy security was being deployed to the area to forestall any attack.

Comrade Oshiomhole was said to have arrived his country home ahead of the rally.



Details shortly…

How Popular Trado-Medical Practitioner, Oko Oloyun, Was Shot Dead

Popular traditional medical practitioner, Fatai Yusuf, aka Oko Oloyun, was on Thursday shot dead by gunmen on the Eruwa-Igboora Road in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, Shina Olukolu in a statement on Friday confirmed that Yusuf was attacked around Akeroro Area on the Abeokuta/Igbo-ora/Iseyin road when he was traveling in a two-car convoy.

The Police boss added that gunmen attack the vehicles conveying Yusuf by firing shots from the thick forest where they were hiding.
The two-man armed escorts of policemen protecting the deceased engaged the assailants, but they managed to escape back into the forest after a single shot had hit the Yusuf who died later of his bullet injuries,” the statement read in part.

The police added that there is a twist to the story, following the destruction of some financial records at the Lagos office of the traditional medicine expert.

“However, an interesting twist to the story was that the deceased probably had earlier detected an alleged bookkeeping records fraud in his Lagos office which subsequently allegedly led to the burning/destruction of some financial/bookkeeping records.

“In addition to other possible motives, a plausible nexus is, therefore, being suspected between the fire incident and the attack on the deceased.”

Some of the staff and his two police escorts are currently being questioned by detectives from the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID) Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Oko Oloyun is the manufacturer of Yoyo Bitters and Fijk Flusher. Both herbal products are popular in the southwest region of the country.

Traditional Medicine Practitioner, Oko Oloyun, Shot Dead In Oyo

Yusuf was said to be on his way from an outing around 4:30pm when the gunmen shot at his vehicle.

Popular alternative medicine practitioner, Alhaji Fatai Yusuf, also known as Oko Oloyun, was on Thursday shot dead by gunmen on the Eruwa-Igboora Road in the Ibarapa Central area of Oyo State.

Yusuf was said to be on his way from an outing around 4:30pm when the gunmen shot at his vehicle, a report by PUNCH said.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Gbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the incident, said the state Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, had visited the scene and ordered an investigation into the incident. 

He added that Yusuf’s corpse had been deposited in the Igbo-Ora General Hospital’s mortuary.

Fadeyi said, “Gunmen attacked his vehicle on the Eruwa-Igboora Road in Ibarapa Central; they shot at his vehicle and he was hit by a bullet.

“The man's corpse has been deposited in the Igbo-Ora General Hospital.”

Some people are threatening me for exposing Saraki –Senator Suleiman Ajadi

Senator Suleiman Ajadi
In this interview with TUNDE OYEKOLA, the Chairman of the Kwara State Committee on the Recovery of Government Properties, Senator Suleiman Ajadi, explains how government properties were recovered from those who converted them to personal use

You are the chairman of the committee set up by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on the recovery of properties belonging to the Kwara State Government. What are your findings so far?

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was sworn in on May 29, 2019. In June, he set up a 21-member committee to look into government properties and appointed me as the chairman. The committee comprises experts from different fields. We have done the job and submitted our report. In fact, we submitted three volumes of the report.

 In the course of our investigation, we discovered that many properties belonging to the Kwara State Government were misappropriated. We also found that parcels of land and houses owned by the state and located in the Government Reservation Area, as well as in places, such as Lagos, Kaduna and Kaduna, had been sold or given out as gifts to friends or relatives.


In addition to this, we found that the pension law, which provides for the compensation of former governors after the completion of their tenures, was grossly abused. We discovered all sorts of abuse of official duties.

The state pension law for ex-governors states that after completing an eight-year tenure, the government would build a five- bedroom bungalow for a former governor in a location of his choice , but we discovered that a chalet, the Alimi Lodge, where the government used to accommodate important visitors was given to a former governor as a gift.

The Alimi Lodge comprises three bungalows of 9 flats and 9 boys’ quarters. That was given to a former governor. The government also built another five- bedroom bungalow at 1 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin after the same person collected N256m from the state government.

There was another large parcel of land, which the immediate past government acquired for the Amayo International Market. Although a plot sold for N250,000 in that area, government purchased one plot at the cost of N7 million per plot.

 We also discovered that the sum of N3 billion meant as loan for small and medium scale enterprises was grossly misappropriated. Instead of serving its purpose, the fund was moved from one bank to another until a part of it disappeared.

Also, we were unable to trace the beneficiaries of the N1.6bn anchor borrowers’ fund shared by political leaders.

 Regarding landed properties, most of the houses in the GRA, built many years ago by past governments of the state to accommodate important visitors and senior government officials in Ilorin, were shared by political leaders while some were sold to the cronies and friends of the helm of the affairs of the state at give away prices.

The parcel of land in Lagos, which houses the Kwara State Liaison Office, was divided into two. A former governor of the state took one part of it and used it to build offices which he let out to the people. In Kaduna, some of the properties belonging to the Kwara State Government were given out to the friends of a former governor, while the uncompleted government property started during the administration of Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi in 1992 in Abuja was vandalised. The project, which is located near the Nicon Noga Hotel in Abuja, was vandalised and abandoned.


Here in Ilorin, a parcel of land donated by a family for government use was sold to a Korean at a paltry sum of N100 million.

Satellite Motels and Kwara Hotel were leased out to their friends at N500 million and N350m, respectively, but none of them gave any financial return to the state government. Today, only seven rooms are habitable in Kwara Hotel. That was the type of government they ran in the state. We met the state in a precarious situation.

Many other government projects were mismanaged by the past governments in the state. We can talk of Shonga Farm, Harmony Holdings, Kwara Poultry, KP3 and others. When they were leaving office, some of them went away with three or five cars, even posh cars that cost up to N65 million.


Did you invite those who were involved to appear before the committee?

Yes, we got in touch with all of them. We invited them, but some of them ignored our invitation. In December 2019, the government revoked some plots of land at the Civil Service Clinic.

Are you talking about plots 1,3 and 5 of the civil service land on Ilofa Road in the GRA? Are they among the mismanaged properties belonging to the state government?

Yes, they are among government  properties that were illegally acquired. The issue of the land in question came under the terms of reference of this committee, which considered many other government-owned properties and submitted its recommendations in July 2019.

As was the case with all the properties that the committee looked into, the committee’s recommendations were based strictly on available records from the archives of government.

We found that the land in question was acquired by a company, ASA Company Limited, believed to be owned by late Senator Olusola Saraki. Based on the available records, the committee did not see proof of any payment nor an approved Right of Occupancy, even though there was a letter of allocation in principle.

In reaching our conclusion, the committee noted that the land in question was also a part of a larger parcel of land, part of which has been developed into the Civil Service Clinic and Secretariat complex, now housing the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce and Cooperative.

Based on the existing convention that land acquired by government, in overriding public interest, cannot be converted to private use, unless under extraneous circumstances, which require the express approval of the governor of the state, the committee did not see any evidence that a case was made for this land nor did the governor of the state approve of any plan to convert it to private use.

In view of the above reasons, therefore, the committee was compelled to recommend that the land be repossessed and put to the original use it was meant for. So, there is no controversy on the land.

What is your take on the allegation that the state government demolished the old people’s home (Ile Arugbo) built by Saraki?

 When people heard that Ile Arugbo had been demolished, the first thing that came to their minds was that the state government had destroyed the place where old people were being catered for. But this is not true. There is no such place where old or elderly people are being taken care of.

 Some people even thought that it was the residence or personal house of late Senator Olusola Saraki that the government demolished. But this is not true. Saraki’s personal house on Ilofa road, GRA, Ilorin is still intact and it is still there. It was not touched.

I want people to know that Ile Arugbo was not demolished. There is no Ile Arugbo anywhere. What the government demolished on the piece of land beside the Civil Service Clinic were stalls erected on the land owned by the Kwara State Government.

Ile Arugbo used to serve as a waiting room for Saraki’s visitors. A lot of people used to come from different parts of the state to see him. They would wait in the building for their turn to see him. Sometimes the place even served as a venue for a political gathering.

There was no document, no receipt, no Right of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy  to show that the land was properly acquired. We are not saying that the land was stolen because we all know that Baba Saraki was not a thief and he did not steal government property in his life time.

I want people to know that the land was set aside for the third phase of the Kwara State Government Secretariat. The foundation has been laid since the 1980s. I met the foundation there when I was Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning between 1994 and 1995. Part of the land was used to construct the building housing the Ministry of Finance today. The state government also constructed the Civil Service Hospital there.

Secondly, a hospital should be in a quiet place and not in a noisy neighbourhood. So an office for political gathering is not suitable in that place.

It is alleged that you also acquired government land in the GRA and the present government in Kwara is trying to erase the legacies of former Senate President Bukola Saraki’s father out of jealousy. How do you react to this?

 I have a parcel of land in the GRA, Ilorin, but I didn’t acquire government land. I bought my own land from private individuals and I have the receipt and the C of O on the land. People can go and verify it. As for whether we revoked the land out of jealousy, why do we have to be jealous of Bukola whom we defeated flatly in the 2019 general elections?  We beat him in his polling booth and we beat him in all the 192 wards in the state. He might be the political leader yesterday, but today he is no longer a leader in the state.

It is also alleged that you are playing politics with your committee’s decision to reclaim state-owned properties. What is your reaction to this?

 What type of politics are we playing? You governed the state and left with things that did not belong to you. They are saying so to hide their character.   Did politics tell you not to speak the truth? Some people have even threatened to deal with me for exposing their leader. I’m not afraid of their threats because we are doing the right thing by speaking the truth. Anybody that is not satisfied about what we said in our report should go to court.

BREAKING: One killed as Police, Shi’ites clash in Abuja

One passerby was killed when the police allegedly fired gunshots and tear gas canisters to disperse a protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites around Berger area of Wuse in Abuja.

The procession, which started at Utako ended at Berger, due to the pandemonium.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that commuters and other members of the public took to their heels when the incident occurred.
The body was said to have been moved away by the police.

The Shi’ites have been demanding unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat detained by government in a correctional facility in Kaduna State.

The policemen on ground were not willing to comment about the incident.

Details shortly…

BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms Ortom’s election

The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the election of Governor Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the validly elected governor of Benue State.

In dismissing the appeal filed by the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Emmanuel Jime as lacking in merit, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta who read the unanimous judgment held that he agreed with the submissions of respondents the concurrent findings of the two courts ought not to be dismissed.

The appellant had contested the return of Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the grounds of substantial noncompliance with the provisions of Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

The petitioner alleged in his petition that Ortom was not dully elected by majority of lawful votes cast.

The APC governorship candidate also challenged the results declared in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Ukum, Ushongo and Vandeikya.

He therefore asked the tribunal to either declare him winner of the March 2019 governorship election in Benue or nullify Ortom’s election and order the conduct of a fresh election in the state.

Jime appealed to the apex court after his petition was unanimously dismissed at the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal for lacking in merit.

Gridlock As Vehicle Burns On Kara Bridge Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

A vehicle has caught fire on the Kara-Berger axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, causing gridlock on the road.
The incident which involved a minibus, occurred on Tuesday morning on the road inwards Lagos.

The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained and it is unclear if there were any casualties.

However, relevant traffic and emergency agencies were on ground to put out the fire and control the traffic.

The Berger-Kara end of the expressway has been notorious for traffic since the construction and division on some portions of the road commenced earlier this month.

Details later…

Five Confirmed Killed In Abule Egba Pipeline Explosion

Authorities say five persons have been confirmed dead in the Abule-Egba pipeline fire explosion that occurred within the late hours of Sunday.

Giving an update on the sad development, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said three adult males, one adult female, and one female child died in the incident.

LASEMA via its official Twitter handle added that twenty (20) people were treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene.
The Agency further noted that about eleven buildings were also affected by the inferno.

According to LASEMA, seventeen shops, thirty-three trucks, three cars, and three tricycles were also affected by the fire.

Corroborating LASEMA’s statement, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, said it is unfortunate that five lives were lost to the inferno.

Mr Kyari who visited the scene of the explosion on Monday also revealed that many are in critical condition in the hospitals.

Kyari noted that the explosion was as a result of the “unpatriotic acts of vandals” who make “insertions into the pipelines to steal products, leading to disasters such as this.”

He, therefore, called for the “support of every member of the community to expose the bad eggs in their midst.”

Gunmen kill pastor in Adamawa

Gunmen have killed a cleric, Rev Denis Bagauri, during a midnight attack on Sunday.

Bagauri was killed at his residence in Mayo Belwa, some 70 kilometres south of the state capital, Yola, by yet- to -be identified persons.

The attack came five days after similar incident on a journalist, Maxwell Nashion of Radio Nigeria (Fombina FM Yola) in his home in Girei, near central Yola.

Bagauri, who was of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), was attacked in the wee hours of Monday at the Nasarawo Gereng Area of Mayo Belwa, headquarters of the Mayo Belwa local government Area.

Many had made social media posting by 6.20 am Monday regarding Bagauri’s killing.

One of the deceased’s friends, Alhaji Muhammad Buba, who lives in Mayo Belwa, told our correspondent on phone: “They killed him last night. A member of the family told me they have taken his corpse to the mortuary.”

Bagauri, a politician, became popular for his role as the voice of Christians in government when Murtala Nyako and Mohammed Jibrila Bindow were Governors.

He was liaison officer for Christians under Murtala Nyako.

He was called Pastor Nyako and served under Bindow as Senior Special Assistant on Religion Matters.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, he was awaiting details on the incident

Police rescue 19 children from illegal orphanage in Kano

Following the discovery of an alleged illegal private orphanage, Du Merci Children Development Ministry, Kano State Police Command says it rescued 19 children from its possession.

The State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano on Thursday.
Haruna noted that a suspect and his wife, now at large, connived and sourced for the children through unlawful means.

He disclosed that a medical doctor with a private clinic in Kano facilitated the procuring of pregnant women whose babies are handed over to the suspect after delivery.
On his part, the suspect denied all allegations, stressing that the facility was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Kano State Government had expressed concern over the discovery of Du Merci Orphanage located at Nomansland.

The orphanage has been operating for over 25 years without a license from the state government.

He added that investigation is in progress.

Amotekun: Itse Sagay declares security outfit legal

Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, has declared the establishment of Operation Amotekun by Southwest governors as legal and in line with their constitutional role as chief security officers of their states.

His position opposed that of the Justice Minister and Attorney-general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who declared the security outfit illegal.

Governors from Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos States last week Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital launched a security outfit called Amotekun.

Sagay in an interview with The Nation said the Police lacked adequate manpower to effectively secure a country of nearly 200 million people, hence the establishment of Amotekun was in order.

“I am positively disposed towards it. I think it is a good beginning not to depend completely on the Federal Government for our security.

“We should begin to rely more and more on ourselves so that those who feel the pain are those who try to take control of the security situation.

“We know that the Police are few; they are stretched; we have about 250,000 policemen in a country of almost 200 million. So, I think these regional security institutions are necessary.
“I believe the police should cooperate with them and help with their training. And I believe eventually, they should even be armed so that we can have a lot more hands and local people involved in security.

“Perhaps that can lead to other benefits, such as economic cooperation and wealth creation; and gradually, we’ll begin to regain what we lost when we lost the regions in the 60s. So, yes, I support it.
“It’s not state police. I think the people who created it have been careful. Yes, there is a security outfit, but there is nothing in the Constitution that precludes either states or association of states from taking care of their security.
“There is this popular saying that the governor is the chief security officer of a state. That’s not an empty statement.
“They get a lot of money for security, and I look at this as part of the responsibility of the governors acting jointly to provide greater security in the Southwest.”

Breaking! Amotekun has come to stay – Wole Soyinka

             Professor Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has declared that the establishment of Operation Amotekun by Southwest governors ‘has come to stay irrespective of its legality’.
Soyinka said the supplementary security outfit launched in Ibadan last week, came up as a result of series of meetings by the leaders of the region to curb insecurity issues that the existing security bodies have not been able to put an end to.

The Nobel Laureate prize winner made this known at the ongoing press conference at his Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos, opposing the Justice Minister and Attorney-general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who declared the security outfit illegal.

“Amotekun is a result of meetings to curb menace in the region,” he said.
“Some people who have been sleeping all this time, taking belated actions while villages are been wiped out are now telling us this…that people do not have right to flush out the evil ones among them which the exiting security outfits have not been able to do.”

“I think they should go back to sleep because Amotekun has come to stay,” he added.

Details later…..

Breaking: Gunmen attack emir of patiskum, kill 3 aides along Kaduna- Zaria highway

Gunmen have attacked the First Class Emir of Patiskum, Alhaji Umaru Bubaram killing three of his aides along Kaduna- Zaria highway. The emir BBB was said to be on a tour of traditional institutions across the North as part of preparations for the official commissioning of Patiskum Central Mosque scheduled for January 18, 2020. He was on his way to Zaria when he came under attacked by the gunmen.
 ‎The incident happened at a place called Fandatio village closed to Maraban Jos around 2:am Wednesday morning
It was not clear if the attackers were personally targeting at the emir because other travellers were also affected according to sources.
A traditional title holder in the emir’s entourage Sarkin Yamma Patiskum, Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim ‎confirmed the incident to Daily Trust at Barau Dikko hospital where the emir was rushed to.
Police spokesman Yakubu Sabo confirmed the attack along the highway but said a statement would be issue later.

Amotekun: Laws are not made in AGF’s office, Akeredolu replies Malami

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has responded to the comments attributed to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, declaring ‘Operation Amotekun’ as an illegal outfit.

Mr. Akeredolu said that it is clear laws are not made in the office of the AGF, but he can interpret the laws and advise the FG on matters relating to the law. “One thing is clear, laws are not made in the office of the Attorney General; he can only interpret the laws and give positions of government on matters relating to the law. “When he comes out with relevant portions of the law on the matter, we will consider it and respond adequately as the law stipulates.”

The Governor who alongside his colleagues from other Southwest states, last week, launched Amotekun in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, added that the governors from the region are yet to meet since the pronouncement from the office of the AGF. “We have not met, but I can assure you that when we meet, we will adequately respond to the position of the AGF.”

Adekunle dies after drinking herbal mixture

The Osun State Police Command on Monday said it had commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Mutiu Adekunle, who died after drinking a herbal mixture.
Adekunle’s death occurred on Sunday around 11.15pm at a hospital where he was rushed to, having developed complications after drinking a herbal mixture given to him by one Alfa Nureni Suleiman.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that the deceased and one Opeyemi Olayiwola were given the herbal mixture by Suleiman.
However, after drinking the said mixture, both men developed complications and were rushed to a private hospital in the Ijetu area of Osogbo.
While Olayiwola was said to be responding to treatment, Adekunle gave up the ghost at the hospital.
The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the death, explained that the prime suspect had been arrested.
He said, “The matter was reported at the Oja Oba Police Division (Osogbo) on Sunday at about 11.15pm. It was reported that one Olayiwola Opeyemi and Mutiu Adekunle were given a herbal mixture to drink by one Alfa Nureni Suleiman.
As a result, the duo developed complications and were admitted at a private hospital in the Ijetu area of Osogbo.
“Mutiu (Adekunle) later gave up the ghost in the same hospital but Olayiwola is responding to treatment. Our operatives have visited the scene.
“The suspect has been arrested for interrogation. The corpse has been deposited at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital’s morgue for autopsy.”
The CP, who spoke through the command’s spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, said the police would carry our diligent investigations into the cause of death.

FRSC gives directives on use of Google map while driving

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has made clarified its ban on the use of Google Maps while driving.
The FRSC Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, speaking at a news conference in Abuja said road users can only use Google Maps with the aid of car-holding phone devices.

The commission had earlier banned the use of google maps on smartphones while driving, threatening arrest and prosecution. However, the Marshal reinstated his statement but with a condition on how the application is to be used
According to him, those nabbed making use of Google map without the aid of car-holding phone devices will be arrested and prosecuted.

He said; “The use of google maps while driving is allowed, but hand-held driving and usage are offences associated with driving and anyone caught would face the law squarely. If you must use Google map while driving, you must get the car-holding phone devices which is both for your safety and for better usage of the device and the application.”

Gunmen kill 12 people, injure one in Plateau – Police

The Plateau State Police Command has said gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, on Thursday, killed 12 persons and injured one at Kulben village of Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Terna Tyopev, made this disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.

Mr Tyopev, a deputy superintendent of police, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.

“In the early hours of today, we received a distress call that gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen attacked Kulben community of Kombun District of Mangu.

“As a result, 12 persons lost their lives and one severely injured.

“Immediately we received the information, the commissioner in charge of the command, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, directed the DCP in charge of Operations, Mr Aliyu Tafida to mobilise to the scene.

“As I speak, our team of detectives and other officers are in the scene of the crime to prevent further attacks,” he said.

Mr Typopev said the injured are currently receiving treatment at Mangu General Hospital.

He called on residents of the community to remain calm and be law abiding, adding that the police and other security agencies would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.

“No arrest is yet to be made, but we are doing everything possible to ensure the criminals are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law,” he assured.

He called on the public to provide the police with useful information that would enable them track down the perpetrators.

Four Feared Dead, 21 Reportedly Abducted By Bandits In Niger

At least four persons are feared dead in a fresh attack by bandits on Beni community in Munya local government area of Niger State.

Although when contacted on the telephone the Police Public Relations Officer in the state DSP Abubakar Dan-Inna said the command was yet to receive reports on the attacks, locals said the attack occurred early hours of Wednesday.

This attack comes days after bandits ambushed and killed a military captain and four other military officers in the same local government area.

The bandits were also reported to have abducted the Chief Imam of Beni Central mosque, Mallam Umar Mohammed who was said to be on his way for a naming ceremony that morning
20 other members of the community were also kidnapped by the gunmen.

The District Head of Beni, Alhaji Jafaru Umar Sarki, who confirmed the attacks to Channels Television, said the bandits, numbering over 50 went from house to house, forcefully dispossessing the people of their valuables including cattle.

He also said no fewer than four persons were killed while several others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Kafin Koro General Hospital.

“They came three days ago and stole over 200 cows from Fulani men, and this morning, they came again in their numbers. So far four people have been killed, they shot another boy in the head and we don’t know if he will survive. They are so many in numbers; I can’t count them and they all had guns,” Sarki said.

He expressed displeasure over the lack of response by security agencies in the state to the plights of the people.

According to him, “The unfortunate thing is that we informed the security agents about it after the first attack but up till now nobody came to our rescue. What is the essence of security if people’s lives and property are not safe. This community is under siege at the moment and we are helpless.”

On Tuesday, the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga who visited the area to present relief materials to some of the affected communities, disclosed that over 2,500 persons are currently displaced from their homes as a result of banditry attacks.

At least more than fifty persons have so far been killed by bandits since the renewed attack by bandits in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas of the state.

Earlier Wednesday, Governor Abubakar Bello in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mary Barje urged security agencies in the state to come up with a fresh, holistic approach to tackling the menace.

According to the governor, “the bandits may have crossed the river from Kaduna and came to launch an attack in Munya” adding that, “the issue of insecurity is a collective battle which must not be left to the security agencies and government alone.”

Also, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial district where the bandits have been operating, Sani Musa called on President Muhammadu Buhari to give an executive order to the military and the police to deploy their troops to the area to flush out the bandits.

According to him, the attacks have stalled development in the area and also brought untold hardship on the locals who are predominantly farmers but cannot farm because of the incessant attacks by the gunmen.

“Something has to be done fast to avoid the situation from deteriorating.

Most of the bandits are those fleeing Zamfara and Kaduna states where there are intense military operations. I am calling on the Governors of Kaduna and Zamfara two join hands together with our own governor to see how they can tackle the problem once and for all,” Senator Musa advised.

With the Supreme Court’s ruling that finally laid to rest the election petitions challenging the victory of Governor Abubakar Bello in the 2019 elections, perhaps one can say that the coast is now clear for him to chart a way out of the security challenges and other issues militating against the growth of Niger state.

BREAKING: 176 Killed As Ukrainian Jet Crash

All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported.

State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International Airlines.

“Obviously it is impossible that passengers” on flight PS-752 are alive, the head of Red Crescent told semi-official news agency ISNA, putting the number of people on board at 170.

The Boeing 737 had left Tehran’s international airport bound for Kiev, the agency said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site.

Three dead, others injured on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Three persons have been confirmed dead, while three others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Monday night.

The accident involved an Iveco truck and a Toyota Hiace bus, before Ishara Bridge, Ogere.

Mr Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Tuesday stated that the accident occurred around 8:10 p.m was caused by route violation, saying that the driver of the bus drove against traffic around construction zone and had a head-on collision with the truck
Oladele boss noted that six people, all male, were involved in the accident with three of them sustaining injuries while three of them died in the crash.

“The crash involved two vehicles, a blue coloured Iveco truck with registration number LSR 908 XF and a white coloured Toyota Hiace bus with registration number FST 96 XF.

“The suspected cause of the crash was route violation (driving against traffic) around the construction zone, considering too that it was even dark at night,” he said.
He stated that the injured victims were rescued to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical attention while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the Ishara Morgue.

The sector commander urged motorists to drive cautiously especially around construction zones and resist the urge to drive against traffic for whatever reason.

Troops overrun Boko Haram terrorists, rescue 207 children

“Additionally, on Jan. 4, some terrorists who attempted to attack the Headquarters of 29 Task Force Brigade location at Jakana in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno were overpowered by the troops.

“At the end of the encounter, six B/Haram criminals were neutralised, with recovery of equipment while one soldier paid the supreme price and two others wounded in action during the encounter.

“The wounded personnel were evacuated to a military medical facility and are responding positively to treatment,” he said.

Iliyasu further disclosed that the troops conducted massive raid/cordon and search operations at some identified Boko Haram hideouts between Jakana and Mainok in Konduga and Kaga local government arwas of Borno on Jan. 4.

He added that six suspected terrorists were arrested while a total of 461 captives comprising 100 men, 154 women and 207 children were rescued from the insurgents who had kept them as hostages in their ancestral community.

According to him, the rescued children within the Polio Vaccination age were instantly administered with the vaccine in line with the Buratai Intervention Task Force Initiative by the Nigerian Army Medical Team.

“All rescued victims have been promptly evacuated and handed over to Borno State Internally Displaced Persons officials.

“In a separate incident, on 2nd January 2020, troops of 159 Task Force Battalion deployed at a Check Point along the Main Supply Route Damasak-Kareto in Mobbar LGA of Borno State rescued 4 minors aged between 10 – 14 years old.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted from Damasak in 2015 by the Boko Haram criminal elements.

“The rescued minors narrated their ordeal in the hands of the Boko Haram criminals and how they escaped from a camp in Tumbun Gini during a recent onslaught by troops.

“It is heartwarming to state that the parents of the rescued minors were contacted and they have all identified their wards amid tears of joy,” he said

BREAKING: Three shot dead as fire razes Oyo market

Pandemonium has broken out in Oyo town after an early morning fire razed larger part of the ancient Akesan market with the men of the nearby fire service unable to curtail the situation.

The situation got messier when youths vented their anger on the fire service, who attributed their incapacities to non-functional equipment at the disposal.

The youths, in their hundreds, had stormed the fire station burning tyres in the process.
The situation attracted the attention of the security operatives said to have used live bullets on the protesters, killing three people in the process.

To battle the raging inferno, a reinforcement of fire fighter has been mobilised from Ibadan, the capital city and Ogbomosho, which is about 50 kilometres away.

Although, source could not give the exact identity of the security operatives, who fired the shots that fell three of the protesting youths, operative of the state owned anti crime outfit, codenamed Operations Burst were fingered as the suspects.

When contacted, the State Police Spokesman denied that the bullets of the police fell the protesters but that he would intensify investigation to unravel the culprit.

He assured that more men have been drafted to the scene to restore normalcy and help put out the fire out completely.
Worried by the development, an Oyo Town based youth group, Oyo Global Forum said a good part of the market would have been saved if the nearby fire station had functional equipment.

While condemning the government for providing the necessary equipment for the fire fighters to work with, especially in the particular season, the group also kicked against what it described as disproportionate use of force in response to angry residents by the security operatives who led to the death of three innocent and harmless youths.

The statement signed by the Secretary of the group, Mr Taiwo Hassan Adebayo also said in due course it would demand from the government due compensation and rebuilding of the market.

The statement reads in part “Tragedies struck in Oyo Town in the early hours of Sunday, January 5, 2020, as fire razed Akesan Market, the town’s main commercial centre, almost entirely and the Police killed at least three persons protesting failure of the fire service. Only a few shops and a filling station were not affected.

“Unfortunately, the Fire Service based in Oyo and just less than 20 metres to the Market could not mobilise to stop the raging fire. The Service said its equipment was not functioning. Firefighters then had to be mobilised from Ogbomoso Town, 50 kilometres away, after massive damage.
“We condemn this failure of government service. But more concerning is the disproportionate use of force in response to angry residents who were protesting at the gate of the fire service near Akesan in Oyo.

“Ogbomoso firefighters are currently fighting the fire and we hope it is stopped before further damage.

“We sympathise with our people, particularly men and women trading at Akesan. It is a sad way to start the year.

“In due course, we will be demanding that Oyo State Government should compensate the traders and rebuild the market, while also enforcing stricter safety standards across the state. We will also not allow the police to get away with the killings in Oyo.”

As at the time of filing this report, fire fighters are still on ground battling the inferno and save whatever that could be saved.

The fire was said to have started around 1am with no one able to ascertain the cause of the fire yet.

Family loses three children to fire in Ibadan

Three children from the same parents were in the early hours of Friday burnt to death at their residence at Orisunbare Street, Eyin Grammar Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the police said.

The names of the deceased children, whose parents are Tunde and Christiana Emmanuel are Glory, 14; Samuel, 8 and Darasimi, 3.

 The incident occurred when their parents were not around.

They were reportedly locked in and could not escape when the fire started.

The fire, which began at 1 a.m. on Friday also affected other rooms in the ‘face-to-face’ building. A night guard in the area reportedly raised the alarm and alerted people in the community.

Though the cause of the fire incident has not been ascertained, sources said it began as a result of a spark from an electrical structure. Other sources said a lit candle might have been responsible for the fire.

When journalists visited the scene of the fire incident on Friday, two single-face gas cookers that had been razed were seen. The police had evacuated the remains of the three children.

One of the occupants of the building, whose room also got burnt, Adeola, spoke with journalists.

“We were all sleeping when the night guards called our attention to the fire incident from outside around few minutes to 1 a.m. We were shocked and we ran for safety only to realise that the children of Mr Tunde and Mrs Christianah Emmanuel; Glory, Samuel and the youngest Darasimi, were locked inside their room.

“Then, people made efforts to rescue them and somehow quench the fire with water. But this was not enough as the fire kept on ‘blaring’. Glory attempted to escape and possibly rescue his other siblings, but the door was locked from outside with a big padlock.

“As much as neighbours attempted to rescue them, they were kept away by the force of the fire before things turned awry. The water we were trying to use seemed like fuelling it the more.

“The fire-fighters had difficulties getting here because most gates leading to this area had been locked. So, it was tasking getting here on time, though their efforts with two trucks of water eventually quenched it (fire).”
The parents of the deceased children were reportedly on night duty when the tragedy happened.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident.

Mr Fadeyi said, “On 3rd January 2020, at the early hours, there was a fire incident at No 6, Orisunbare street, Eyin Grammar Ibadan where three children, Glory Emmanuel, female, aged 14 years; Samuel Emmanuel, male, aged eight years; and Darasimi Emmanuel, female, aged three years of the same mother were burnt to death in an eight-room apartment.

“The police have commenced investigation as to the cause of the fire incident.”

DSS arrests man for creating, sharing fake video depicting Buhari’s marriage

The Department of State Services arrested a 32-year old man, Kabiru Mohammed for creating and sharing fake videos depicting President Muhammadu Buhari’s wedding the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq.

The fake videos had been viral on the social media space between August and October 2019.

Parading the suspect at the DSS National Headquarters on Friday, Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, said an investigation was launched, following a formal complaint to the Service by the Minister for Finance.

He said, “Last year, 2019 between August and October there was a defamatory video that circulated widely across Nigeria and showing false engagement of Mr President in marriage with some members of his cabinet. One was the Minister for Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed and another was that of the Minister for Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq. On the 11thof October, 2019 the Honourable Minister for Finance, brought a formal complaint to the Service in which she stated that the video had cost her big embarrassment and asked that an investigation be opened into that audio/video and the materials associated with it, the infographics and all the materials that were in circulation at the moment. She asked that a detailed investigation be opened in that regard with a view to identifying the persons or groups of persons that may have been behind the circulation of such defamatory materials.

“The Service went into investigation and we can announce that it had apprehended the person that is involved and the person who started this and who circulated the materials. His name is Kabiru Mohammed. He hails from Kano. He is 32 years. He holds a diploma in Hausa and Fulfulde from the Federal College of Education, Kano and also holds a diploma in Mass Communication from Aminu Kano Islamic School, according to him.
“He has confessed and investigation has also revealed his involvement in the creation of these materials and the circulation of the materials. Investigation is continuing to determine the actual reasons behind his intent. What we can assure you as Nigerians is that we would continue to deepen this investigation and bring it to a logical conclusion.

“We will do everything needful within the ambit of the law to bring this to a logical conclusion, as to determine whether there is or not other persons, interests and motives behind this other than what he has said.

“We want to use this opportunity to once again please ask Nigerians as always that the spread of false news through the social media does not do well for any person. You may enjoy the spread of such falsehood when you are not the victim. But if you become the victim, you will know the pain. And we want to urge every citizen and residents and of course Nigerians, that anywhere they are, they should desist from spreading falsehoods, misrepresentations, rumours against one another, against then government, and against institutions of government.

“By the time you click that button and you spread or participate in sharing news that is not true, you are helping in causing disharmony, you are helping in bringing problem in the country. And you are also feeding on differences in the country to bring about chaos, anarchy and instability. As we go into the New Year, we urge everyone to make a new attitude and begin to find reasons to be more patriotic, to be more law abiding, and be better citizens and to help move Nigeria forward. On our part we would continue to perform our duties and responsibilities without let or fear and will always collaborate with all stakeholders particularly the media and strategic partners to make sure there is lasting peace in the country.”

The suspect, Mohammed, who admitted to creating and sharing the videos begged for forgiveness, saying it was a mistake.

He said he was a member of a political group in Kano known as Kwakwasiya.

Gunmen kidnap three in Kwara, demand N50m ransom

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have kidnapped three indigenes of Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ekiti local government area of Kwara state.

The kidnappers have also allegedly demanded for a ransom of N50 million from the family members before the release of their victims, it was gathered on Friday.

The kidnapped persons are one lady and two men while the fourth persons in the same vehicle with the victims escaped with serious injuries.

The incident, which took place December 31st, 2019, occurred along Osi-Obbo-Aiyegunle road of Ekiti local council of the state.

Speaking with our reporter on phone, former chairman of the local government and an indigene of the town, Otunba Ezekiel Gbadeyan, said the victims who were occupants of the same vehicle were travelling to their country home for the New Year celebrations.

Gbadeyan added that kidnapping has been a recurrent decimal in the area due to the deplorable state of the road linking Osi and Obbo-Aiyegunle.

He added the “ incident was the fourth in the last few weeks but local hunters have always been rising up to the occasion of preventing innocent souls from been kidnapped.
“The hunters have been our saving grace from the menace of these herders in the area. This said one occurred in the daytime.

“These pathetic occurrences are due to the non motorable state of our road as vehicles cannot move freely. Therefore, we are appealing to the state government to assist us in rehabilitating the road that links the two communities.

“Also, the road that links Obbo-Aiyegunle in Kwara state to Ekiti state is also awful. We use this medium to urge the authorities concerned to come to our rescue.”

When contacted, spokesperson of the state police command Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident, adding it was reported four days ago.

“The state police command is working seriously to ensure the safe release of the hapless victims from captivity,” he said.

Fulani group sues Oyo Govt over anti-grazing law

A Fulani herders group in Oyo State, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, has filed a suit against the state government and the State House of Assembly over the anti grazing law recently passed by the state assembly. The group described the bill as a gross violation of their fundamental rights.
The group described the bill as a gross violation of their fundamental rights.
The group also joined the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state in the suit.

The law, which had been debated, passed and signed into law by the executive arm, was aimed at checking persistent farmers-herders clash in the state.

In the suit number M/744/2019, the herders want the Oyo State High court to declare the law illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. Herders also want the court to grant them an order of perpetual injunction restraining all the “respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise from carrying out any acts or omission which is likely to aid the enactment or even enact or pass the purported anti grazing bill into law as this would amount to a denial of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution of Nigeria”.

Ondo 2020: Akeredolu bans civil servants from wearing his campaign vest

As the political campaigns for the governorship election in Ondo State are expected to increase in the coming weeks, the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has warned civil servants to stay out of the fray.

He said they should stay out of partisan politics during the electioneering activities.

The governor specifically said he was against civil servants wearing campaign T-shirts adorning the logo of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hitherto, civil servants often attend campaign rallies of incumbent governors, wearing branded t-shirts.

Mr Akeredolu spoke at special prayer session to mark the first working day in the new year held at the governor’s office, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.

He asked the workers to allow politicians to play politics, while they should concentrate on their efforts to help government execute its policies for the people.

He expressed gratitude to God for preserving his life, saying he had more services to render to the good people of Ondo State.

“I don’t want any civil servant to wear endorsement T shirt for me. Civil servants should not be involved in politics,” he said.

“I don’t want workers to do like they did before I came on board. They should focus on their jobs and let politicians play politics.

“We are all political animals, but workers should stay away from politics. And if they want to do, it should be done moderately.”

BREAKING: Police Arrest ‘Mastermind’ Of Abuja Bank Robbery

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested the last suspect and the alleged mastermind of the foiled robbery in the Mpape area of Abuja.

The suspect who is identified as Ernest Ewim was picked up from his hide-out in Katampe, a suburb in the nation’s capital.

The arrest of the suspect comes barely one week after the failed robbery attack and this brings the total number of all suspects arrested in connection with the robbery to five.
This is asides the sixth robber who was killed in a shoot-out on the day of the robbery.

One of the suspects, Prince Obinna who is a professional photographer had earlier narrated to Channels Television how he was brought into the deal by Ewim.

He explained that Ewim, who works as a bartender at a pub asked him to organise his friends who were interested in the heist.

An attempt by the suspects to rob the bank on Saturday, December 28 was foiled by a combined team of the Police, the Army and the Department of State Security (DSS) who arrived in the area just when the robbers had made their way in.

They were paraded on Tuesday at the Headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.

Kwara Government Demolishes Saraki’s Family Property In Ilorin

The Kwara State government on Thursday demolished Bukola Saraki’s family property popularly known as Ile Arugbo (old people’s home) in Ilorin, the state capital.

The property was demolished early in the morning after police dispersed protesters, including old women.
Policemen, numbering about 50 were said to have gone to enforce the action at about 3:00 am but were initially resisted by some the old women.

The security agents later returned at 4:00 am when the structure was evetually pulled down.

The structure was used as a venue for political meetings when the Saraki family held sway over Kwara Government.

Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had earlier in December announced his decision to revoke the late Olusola Saraki’s property owing to alleged illegality in its acquisition.

He said the land was originally designated for the construction of a secretariat and parking lot of the civil service clinic.

But former senate president, Bukola Saraki countered this statement, saying his late father lawfully acquired the land from the state government.