Soyinka Debunks Endorsing Tinubu For 2023 Presidency,
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has debunked claims that he had endorsed the presidential ambition of a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Pictures of Soyinka and Tinubu went viral on Wednesday after the former Lagos State Governor declared his presidential ambition.
The post, which first trended in 2021, quoted Soyinka as saying, “I have never involved myself in politics or campaign for any politician, but in 2023 I will be involved in politics and campaign for a longtime friend in 1993 NADECO struggle.”
However, Soyinka in a statement entitled, “Season of Fakery Galore”, dismissed the post as fake news, advising the public to disregard it.
Aisha Buhari To Host Progressive Women’s Conference
The First Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, is set to host the first-ever National Progressive Women’s Conference in Abuja.
The Chairman, Media & Publicity Committee, APC National Women’s Conference, 2022, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that the conference will have several topics including gender inclusiveness in politics and greater role for women in governance will be discussed.
The Conference, which has “One Voice Uniting for Progress” as theme, is being spearheaded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) through Hon. Stella Erhuvwu Okotete, member of its Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – Women Representative.
Aisha Buhari, will deliver the keynote address. The Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor will share her experience as a top government functionary with participants at the Conference, which will be attended by more than 1,000 women drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Security Operatives Free Three Women Abducted In Plateau
A combined security operatives of the Plateau Police Command and some men of Operation SAFE HAVEN have rescued three women who were abducted on Wednesday night by kidnappers.
The victims were kidnapped at Ban village behind Plateau State Polytechnic Heipan, in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, who confirmed the development, said the victims were rescued unhurt. He said efforts are ongoing to arrest other perpetrators who are still on the run as one of the suspects was arrested earlier.
The gunmen had invaded the lodge close to the female students hostel of the Plateau State Polytechnic at about 8 pm on Wednesday and fired gunshots into the air before whisking the women away. The situation created panic among the polytechnic students who are currently writing the second-semester examination.
Court Exonerate Imo Deputy Speaker of Fraud Charges
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, has struck out a criminal charge brought against the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu. He is alleged to be involved in a N75 million fraud.
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Charles Agbaza, struck out the charges upon the request of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The IGP, who filed the charges, however, brought a motion on notice to the court requesting that the charges be terminated.
In the motion argued by IGP’s counsel, Mr Umoh Inah, the police prayed the court to strike out the charges in the interest of justice.
The motion was not opposed by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), who stood for the Deputy Speaker. Justice Agbaza consequently ruled that the charges be immediately terminated.
Bandits Storms Niger Communities, Kill 13 Villagers
The Niger Police Command has confirmed the death of 13 people in two Niger villages in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Spokesperson for the Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said the deceased villagers were killed while harvesting their crops in Nukundna and Wurukuchi villages on Tuesday, adding that details of the attack “are still sketchy as a result of the difficult terrain of the villages”.
Abiodun said the Divisional Police Officer in the area has led men of the Tactical Team of the force to begin a manhunt for the bandits.
He assured the people of the state that the police will continue to protect the lives and property of the citizens but solicited information that could lead to the arrest of the bandits.
7 Killed, 2 Injured In Bauchi Auto Crash
The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) Bauchi State Command, Yusuf Abdullahi, has confirmed seven people dead in an auto crash that occurred on Thursday at Haka Yaki village, close to Buzaye town, along Bauchi-Jos road in Bauchi state.
Abdullahi said two other people sustained various degrees of injuries in the crash which occurred at 12.30 pm, involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a Sharon bus.
He said the Toyota Hiace bus went up in flames as a result of the head-on collision., which was caused by speed violation.
The FRSC boss, however, said the obstructions on the road were cleared while some of the items recovered at the scene included six phones and the sum of N109,090 cash, among others.
Buhari launches 200 Operational Vehicles For Nigerian Police
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday launched over 200 Buffalo branded operational vehicles and other security hardware procured by the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), for the Nigeria Police.
Launching the vehicles and other security hardware in Abuja, Buhari described the provision of the equipment as part of the ongoing reformation of the Nigeria Police Force.
The President, represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, said that the idea was to aid policing in Nigeria, through provision of modern infrastructure.
Buhari commended the Board of Trustees, Management and Staff of the NPTF for meticulously and meritoriously completing the projects, marking the commencement of the inauguration of numerous interventions.
