Pastor Taiwo Odukoya’s twin sister is dead
Founder of the Fountain of Life Bible Church Pastor Taiwo Odukoya has lost his twin sister Kehinde Hassan. Early reports say the 65-year-old died on Thursday of complications from cancer.
Hassan’s death was confirmed by Odukoya’s daughter Tolu Ijogun in an Instagram post on Thursday night.
The death comes one month after Odukoya lost his South African wife Nomthi Odukoya after a two-year battle with cancer.
Pastor Odukoya and his church are yet to publicly announce Hassan’s death.
Just In: Plateau monarch released five days after abduction
The kidnapped traditional ruler in Plateau State, Charles Mato Dakat, has been released.
Dakat who is the Paramount ruler in Gindiri chiefdom, Mangu Local Government of the state, was abducted when gunmen attacked his palace last Sunday around 1am.
His kidnappers had made contact with the family members a few days later and demanded the sum of N50million ransom before they could release the monarch. However, it was gathered that the traditional ruler eventually regained his freedom in the early hours of Friday .
A family source confirmed Dakat’s release to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday. Asked how much ransom was paid to the kidnappers to secure the release of the tradional ruler, the source said, “All I can tell you is that life is more than money. Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and support. To God be the glory, great things He has done and will continue to do.”
Woman Stabs Man To Death In Ogun
Police in Ogun State have arrested a 32-year-old fashion designer for allegedly stabbing one Muhammed Ahmed to death with a broken bottle. The suspect, Omowunmi Oyapitan was arrested on December 29, 2021
Her arrest follows a distress call received by the police at Onipanu divisional headquarters from one Stephen Udo the managing director of Splendour Guest Inn.
Udo told the police that an argument ensued between two of his guests in the hotel, and the suspect decided to intervene but in the process broke a bottle and used it to stab the victim in the neck.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta on Thursday. He said the suspect was promptly arrested, while the victim was rushed to State Hospital Ota, where he was pronounced dead.
Kano-Kaduna rail project to kick-off December 2022
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said commercial activities will begin on the Kano-Kaduna rail line in December 2022. The minister spoke in Kano while inspecting the project.
The minister, said the Federal Government has pumped over $400million into the three-year project. The minister stated that it would be inaugurated before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office.
The minister also revealed that the Federal Executive Council suggested that the contractors construct double tracks instead of the recommended single track.
He noted that the decision of the cabinet would affect the initial cost which was pegged at $1.2billion.
SERAP Condemns Nigerian Satellite Agency For Spending N250m Without Receipts
Rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has alleged that the management of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NCSL) in Abuja, sometime in 2019, failed to remit an approximated sum of N95,641,112 accrued from tax payments.
SERAP, which disclosed this via its official Twitter page on Thursday, said it suspected that the management of the organisation had misappropriated the money.
The civil group further explained that the organisation without any official document reportedly purchased items with N250,099,250 in 2019 and paid N12,047,447 as non-person/cash advances to 14 of its staff members.
It noted that the payment was more than the required N200,000 maximum, adding that the organisation also failed to recover debts of N484,169,079.55 from the Presidency, ministries, departments, agencies as well as state governments. The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NCSL), Abuja in 2019 reportedly failed to remit N95,641,112.00 of deducted taxes to the appropriate authorities.
Buhari Okays Karebo Samson Acting CG For Fire Service
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Karebo Samson as the acting Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS). The appointment of Samson followed the retirement of the FFS CG, Dr Liman Ibrahim.
A statement signed by the FFS public relations officer, SF Ugo Huan, on Thursday, announced the new development.
Samson, who took over the saddle of the firefighting agency on Thursday in Abuja, thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve the nation and appreciated the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for ensuring his emergence.
Huan, in the statement said, “the new acting CG, Karebo, has promised to ensure that men of the operational department are motivated to be at their best in the discharge of their duty.” He called on officers and men of the Service to maintain a high level of discipline even as he assured them that he will carry everyone along to move the Service forward.
Okowa Fires Aide For Recklessness, Insubordination
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, sacked his Executive Assistant on Communications, Latimore Oghenesivbe, over alleged recklessness and Insubordination.
The termination of appointment was contained in a letter dated December 29, 2021, and signed by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Patrick Ukah.
Oghenesivbe had alleged that Okowa never treated him fairly for the past five years he has worked with him, adding that the governor was surrounded by certain persons that have made him nepotistic in his dealings.
In a Facebook post by Oghenesivbe titled, ‘Tribal Bigot’, the aide had accused the alleged ethnic jingoists of not allowing Okowa to accede to some of his official needs and requests including an official car since his appointment.
Germany To Resume Travel Operations With Omicron-Hit Countries
Germany on Thursday said it would lift in early January strict travel rules for people arriving from countries hardest hit by the Omicron variant of the COVID-19.
All countries currently listed in the “virus variant” category, including the UK and several southern African nations, will be reclassified as “high risk” from January 4, said government health agency, the Robert Koch Institute.
The change eases a ban on entry for travellers who are not German residents or citizens, instead allowing anyone to enter as long as they observe quarantine and testing rules.
Germany introduced its “virus variant” travel category in a bid to stop new coronavirus strains that have not yet spread widely on its territory.
Buhari Pays Tribute to Renowned Urologist Datti Ahmed
President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to a former presidential aspirant and President General of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed.
Datti, a renowned urologist and a doyen of private medical healthcare, died in the early hours of Thursday in Kano.
In a tribute to the late medical doctor, the President, in a release issued on Thursday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, described him as a man blessed with immense wisdom.
According to President Buhari: “Dr Datti was at the forefront in providing healthcare to the poor and the needy. His divine teachings and selfless contribution towards the welfare of society will not be forgotten. He will be remembered for his noble service to society”.
I am not against Buhari’s Govt, But Insecurity – Kukah
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Father Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said he is not against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari but opposed to the rising insecurity in the country. Kukah spoke while fielding questions from newsmen at St Bakhita Catholic Secretariat Sokoto.
He maintained that he was not bothered about which region or religion produces the president, saying he is only interested in good governance .
“Ours has become a house of horror with fear stalking our homes, highways, cities, hamlets and communities as bandits and insurgents maim lives at will”, he said. The cleric also accused the president of lopsided appointments stressing that such has caused divisions and agitations in the country.
Kukah noted that he had a cordial relationship with President Buhari, and maintained that it was sycophants that were trying to sow seeds of discord between him and the administration.
