Court Adjourns Kanu’s Trial
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the trial of detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to January 19, 2022.
When the matter was called, Mohammed Abubakar, Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) announced appearance for the AGF. However, no lawyer was in court to announce appearance for the leader of the IPOB.
Abubakar then told the court that Kanu’s counsel, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, staged a walkout because some of the lawyers, including the American lawyer, Bruce Fein, were denied access.
Justice Binta then adjourned the matter until Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 for trial continuation.
Ikoyi collapsed building:29 families submit DNAs for body identification
As rescue team intensified the search for more bodies possibly trapped under the Ikoyi high-rise rubbles, at least 29 families have submitted their Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples to the Lagos State Government, basically to aid identification and collection of their loved one’s corpse for burial.
To aid collections of bodies for the families, the State Government has inaugurated a committee to supervise the identification and release of the bodies to the victims’ families.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who disclosed these on Tuesday, said that the committee was set up to prevent any argument that may possibly arise during collection of the 43 already recovered bodies by the families.
Buhari On a four-day visit to France
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Paris, French capital, for a one day official visit as guest of France President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, after which he would attend a three-day peace summit alongside other world leaders also in Paris.
The President is expected to discuss bilateral relations bordering on security, health and economy between Nigerian and France during the state Visit.
The President’s plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the Le Bourget Airport yesterday, at about 2:45 pm and was received by the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Kayode Laro, Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, and some other Nigerian Ministers.
Buhari Congratulates Soludo, urges him to tackle challenges in the state
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended an arm of fellowship to the Governor-elect of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo. In a congratulatory message shared via his official Facebook page on Wednesday he said:
“I congratulate Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) — and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Committee (PEAC) — on his victory in the Anambra State gubernatorial election.
“I commend the security agencies for their determination to ensure that the election went on as smoothly as possible, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conclusion of the exercise, despite the initial challenges encountered.
“I enjoin Prof Soludo to rally other stakeholders to tackle the enormous challenges confronting Anambra State and the Southeast in general.
“I look forward to working with him for the peace, security and development of Anambra State and the entire country”.
FG to launch “Operation Feed Yourself” campaign to tackle malnutrition
The Federal Government in conjunction with States Government has agreed to launch a new initiative called “Operation Feed Yourself” in order to tackle malnutrition in the country.
The Scheme which is an initiative of the National Exonomic Council and the National Council on Nutrition would among many other things, prompt the establishment of urban farms and small home gardens.
Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo announced this at a High-Level Meeting on Nutrition attended by United Nations Drputy Secretary-General , Mrs Amina Mohammed and other dignitaries.
Soludo wins Anambra Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Chukwuma Soludo as the winner of Anambra governorship elections.
Returning Officer of the election, Professor Florence Obi, made the declaration at exactly 1;50am on Wednesday.
Soludo polled a total of 112,229 votes followed by Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 53,807 votes and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 53,807 votes.
Former National Chairman of APGA, Senator Victor Umeh, reacting to the outcome, urged those who lost in the election to accept and join the party to move the state forward.
Diezani’s N450m loot: EFCC re-arraigns ex-minister, four others
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, re-arraigned a former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama and four others before Justice Fadima Aminu of the Federal High Court in Yobe State.
The other four that were also arraigned are former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State, Mohammed Kadai, Abba Tata, Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks.
They were charged on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N450 million.
The ex-minister allegedly received the said sum from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison- Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election as the coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign committee in Yobe State.
Pastor Taiwo Odukoya Looses Wife To Cancer
The Senior Pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, has lost his second wife after two years of battle with cancer.
The South African wife of the pastor, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya, became the wife of the senior pastor five years after the death of his first wife, Pastor Mrs Bimbo Odukoya, in a plane crash in 2005.
He announced the death of his wife on his Instagram page.
“With deep regret and gratitude to God, I have to announce the passing of my wife, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya. She battled cancer for the better part of two years, she stood on the Word of God and she fought”.
FG sets aside N250bn for autogas vehicle conversion
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, disclosed on Tuesday that the Federal Government has set aside N250 billion for willing investors in autogas assembly plants in the country.
This he said in Abuja, at an Autogas Technicians Training and Certification Programme. This is part of the efforts to ensure that the autogas conversion of vehicles yielded the desired results.
The minister, who was represented by the Senior Technical Adviser on Referendum, Mr Umar Gwandu, said that the money was already in the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and those interested in opening conversion centres could access it.
He explained that the decision to make the money available was as a result of the huge amount spent by government on fuel subsidy.
NCC warns Nigerians on new malware compromising smartphones
The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has a said that there is a new android malware gaining access to smartphones and taking control of infected phones.
It was contained in a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde that the malware is called AbstractEmu and can gain access to smartphones, take complete control of infected smartphones and silently modify device settings while simultaneously taking steps to evade detection.
According to the Commission, this malware was discovered by the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team. They claimed that the malware is distributed through Google Play Store and other third-party stores.