A frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has dared the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, over the temporary ban he placed on political rallies in the State.

He vowed that his faction of the party will resist any attempt to rubbish the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Ize-Iyamu made the challenge on Thursday in Benin, during an emergency press briefing held by a faction of the party in the state to address issues arising from Wednesday’s Abuja High Court ruling which suspended Oshiomhole as Chairman of the party.

The former governorship candidate of the PDP, said so long Obaseki has continued to hold rallies in the state, their faction of the party would also go ahead to hold rallies.

“We want to put a notice to the Governor that we are not under captivity in Edo State. We cannot be oppressed, we cannot be intimated.

“Sometimes ago out of desperation, the state government announced that they have banned rally in Edo State. Where that authority came from, we were not told.

“I believe he thinks that as a Governor, he can by fiat makes decrees, but we need to make him know that in civilian dispensation, there are rules and procedures.

“We don’t understand where the authority came from, to ban rally. But the funny thing is that, the same rally the government ban, I am sure you are aware that in the past one week, the same law the government made, it has flouted. He had held a rally at Iruwa, and only yesterday, he held one at Uroukpota Hall in Benin,” he said.

Ize-Iyamu said that the Governor could not be holding rallies and prohibit them from holding rallies.

“So we want to put him on notice that we will begin to hold rallies, and we are waiting for him as an Emperor of Edo State, to put us in jail. As long as he has no respect for what himself had decreed, we too will do what he is doing,” he said.

Fifteen corps members absconded the service while two corps members died during year in Jigawa, the state NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, has said.

The NYSC Jigawa Coordinator disclosed this during the Passing Out Parade (POP) ceremony for 1,521 Batch ‘A’ 2019 corps members in Dutse on Thursday.

According to him, the 15 absconded corps members would be mobilised and would repeat the service year another time.

The state coordinator said that the two corps members lost their lives while on transit during the festive period.

Muhammad said of the 1,521 corps members, four excelled themselves by undertaking personal community development services which effectively improved their host communities.

“They will receive state honours award and commendation letters. While others are excelling, 15 corps members have absconded the service year,” he said.

Ibrahim, however, urged the outgone corp members to be worthy ambassadors of the NYSC scheme and shun all evil influences which had fast become the bane of the society.

“You should also avoid vices which undermine your position as leaders of tomorrow,” the state coordinator said.

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State congratulated the NYSC officials and their employers for the competent handling of the corps members, saying “your commitment and favour led to the conduct of the exercise which has come to a successful end.”

After much debate and heated reactions from Nigerians, the Senate on Thursday, March 5, approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s $22.7 billion loan request.

The decision of the upper chamber, read out by Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, sparked a lot of uproars in the house.

One of those who reacted to the approval of the request by President Buhari was Enyinnaya Abaribe, the minority leader, who was against accepting all the recommendations of the loan at once.

The Lagos State Government has announced that the PWD level crossing will be temporarily closed from 6:00 pm on Saturday, to 6:00 am on Sunday, for the laying of tracks as part of the ongoing railway modernisation project.

According to a statement from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, motorists intending to use the PWD level crossing during the period are advised to make a diversion to Ashade Underpass, by Idimongoro to join Ikeja Along or climb Airport Bridge by Ikeja General Hospital to link Oshodi Motorway to access their various destinations.

The release also advised all road users to comply with the traffic signals as well as obey traffic management officers to ease the traffic situation and minimise the inconvenience likely to result from the construction work.

While soliciting for the support and cooperation of all Lagosians during the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project, the Lagos State Government reiterated its determination to provide a seamless multi-modal transport system that will meet the transportation need of its large population.

Odion Jude Ighalo found the back of the net twice on Thursday night as Manchester United marched into the Emirates FA Cup sixth round, after securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Derby County and club legend Wayne Rooney at Pride Park Stadium.

Ighalo scored in the 41st-minute and sealed United’s passage to the Quarter Final of the FA Cup in the 70th-minute after Luke Shaw opened the scoring in the 33rd-minute of the encounter.

United are now expected to battle Norwich City later this month, as the Reds maintain the pursuit of a 13th success in the historic competition.

Rooney started for Derby and captained the side he joined in January, playing in a deep-lying midfield role that he flirted with during the latter stages of his Old Trafford career. As you would expect, his name was loudly cheered by the several thousand United fans in the away end, in recognition of a Reds career in which he solidified his position as a bona fide great of the club.

The Manchester United former club captain arguably produced the first moment of quality, on 18 minutes, when his in-swinging free-kick was brilliantly saved by Sergio Romero after Shaw was booked for a foul.

Ighalo can't stop scoring for @ManUtd 🙌🇳🇬🙌#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/hf05VrqqQO

— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 5, 2020

Another opportunity followed soon after, this time for Juan Mata, who spun on an incisive ball from Bruno Fernandes and dispatched a lot shot that was claimed by Rams goalkeeper Kelle Roos.

United began to assert some authority and, after Ighalo registered another shot on target, the Reds deservedly took the lead on 33 minutes via the left foot of Shaw, whose shot bounced off the surface and flew into the top corner of the net via a marginal deflection off Jesse Lingard.

Luke Shaw then became the provider in the 41st minute as his driven pass found Ighalo inside the box and the Nigerian loan signing did well to evade two markers, before finishing low into the bottom corner.

Derby’s hopes of a comeback were already faint, but they were well and truly extinguished on 70 minutes when Ighalo scored his second goal of the night to make it 3-0 to United. The Nigerian latched onto a pass from Mata and although his first shot was saved, he duly made sure with a second effort on the rebound that soared into the roof of the net.

A Nigerian man who returned from France has been quarantined in Lagos over Coronavirus after he developed headache and respiratory symptom.

Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this on Thursday while giving update on Coronavirus in the country.

Abayomi said the Nigerian, who had been isolated in Yaba, travelled to France seven days ago and just returned to Lagos three days ago.

According to him, the man developed severe headache and respiratory symptom at a private hospital and was referred to the government for advice.

He said the state government decided to isolate him because he had a history of travelling to France, one of the Coronavirus hit countries.

The commissioner said test sample had been collected and that the result of the test would be out tonight to ascertain if he was positive or negative to Coronavirus.

However, Abayomi, said the index case, an Italian was seriously responding to treatment at the isolation centre, as his clinical situation was stable.

He stated that the Italian was in high spirit, but that he required psycho-social support as he was getting depressed for being in isolation alone, adding that the patient was in touch with his family and friends in Italy.

Abayomi, however, said the level of viral load in his body had gone down and that if that continued, in the next few days, he might be discharged if he tested negative to the disease.

He said government would not just release him immediately he tested negative to the disease, but would still keep him and run a second test in few days to ascertained he was completely free of the disease before letting him go back to his country.

On the people who alighted from the Turkish Airline on arrival in Lagos, he said government had been able to trace 13 of the remaining 15 contacts, leaving only two that had not been reached, saying that if at the end of today, they could not be reached, he would release their names to the media declaring them wanted.

The Lagos State Government on Thursday night revealed that three Coronavirus suspects are currently being quarantined at its facility in Yaba, Lagos.

Earlier on Thursday, A Nigerian man who returned from France was quarantined in Lagos over Coronavirus after he developed headache and respiratory symptoms.

However, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a tweet late Thursday night said two new suspected cases were being attended to and that they had been isolated at the containment facility in Yaba.

He said the two came from England and China.

Breaking! #COVID19Lagos
We now have 3 suspected cases under isolation in our containment facility in Yaba. One from France, one from England and one from China. Their samples have been taken and results are been expected #ForAGreaterLagos @jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat @SegsDr pic.twitter.com/xhR8I9sjvx

— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) March 5, 2020

The commissioner added that it was now three cases altogether. He said the samples of the two persons had been taken for tests to ascertain if they have Coronavirus or not.

“Breaking! #COVID19Lagos: We now have 3 suspected cases under isolation in our containment facility in Yaba. One from France, one from England and one from China. Their samples have been taken and results are being expected,” he wrote on his twitter handle.”

Earlier, Abayomi said a Nigerian, who had been isolated in Yaba, travelled to France seven days ago and just returned to Lagos three days ago.

According to him, the man developed severe headache and respiratory symptom at a private hospital and was referred to the government for advice.

He said the state government decided to isolate him because he had a history of travelling to France, one of the Coronavirus hit countries.

The commissioner said test samples had been collected and that the result of the test would be out tonight to ascertain if he was positive or negative to Coronavirus.

However, Abayomi, said the index case, an Italian was seriously responding to treatment at the isolation centre, as his clinical situation was stable.

He stated that the Italian was in high spirit, but that he required psycho-social support as he was getting depressed for being in isolation alone, adding that the patient was in touch with his family and friends in Italy.

Abayomi, however, said the level of viral load in his body had gone down and that if that continued, in the next few days, he might be discharged if he tested negative to the disease.

He said government would not just release him immediately he tested negative to the disease, but would still keep him and run a second test in few days to ascertained he was completely free of the disease before letting him go back to his country.

On the people who alighted from the Turkish Airline on arrival in Lagos, he said government had been able to trace 13 of the remaining 15 contacts, leaving only two that had not been reached, saying that if at the end of today, they could not be reached, he would release their names to the media declaring them wanted.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi zonal office, on March 5, 2020, arraigned one Gbaa Benjamin on a one-count charge for stealing and unauthorized ATM cash withdrawal to the tune of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).

The count reads: “That you, Gbaa Luther Benjamin, sometime in October, 2019 in Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, did steal an electronic card to wit: A Zenith Bank Plc debit card issued in the name of Ishima Lohodeboo Yakubu with Account No. 2208635042 and withdrew the sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only, from the said account and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 33(3) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015”.

He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him.

Counsel for the EFCC, Mary Onoja, asked for a trial date and also that the defendant be remanded pending his bail.

However, defence counsel, J.T. Jinge, prayed the Court that he be allowed to make an oral application for the bail of his client since the client was still under administrative bail granted him by the Commission.

Justice Olajuwon rejected the motion and ordered that the defendant be remanded in correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

The case has been adjourned until May 11, 2020 for commencement of trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, arraigned 26 suspected illegal oil dealers and three vessels before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

The first charge involves six suspects and a vessel namely MT Jonko(vessel), Umoh Clement, Moses Ogbodu, Ignatius Okereke, Valentine Amaegberi, Victor Egbowon and Emmanuel Bassey.

Others are: Ademola Olasode, Sule Godwin Anyebe, Oyelami Oloyede, Otuagoma Emmanuel and Anthony Orhieoghenebruru.

One of the charges reads: "That you, MT Jonko, Umoh Akaninyene Clement, Moses Ogbodu, Ignatius Okereke, Valentine Amaegberi, Victor Egbowon, Emmanuel Bassey, Ademola Olasode, Sule Godwin Anyebe, Oyelami Akeem Oloyede, Otuagoma Emmanuel and Anthony Orhieoghenebruru, on the 21st of December, 2019, within the jurisdiction of his honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in 450 metric tons of petroleum products without appropriate licence; and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act."

They pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to them.

In view of their pleas, counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed the court to remand the defendants in the Nigerian Correctional Services, NSC.

Counsel for the defendants, Kenae Ubi, informed the court that applications for bail had been filed and served on the prosecution.

Ubi, therefore, prayed the court for a short date to move the bail applications.

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case until March 17, 2020 for commencement of trial and hearing of bail application.

The Judge also ordered the defendants to be remanded in the NSC.

The EFCC also arraigned another set of 15 suspects and two vessels before Justice Aikawa for dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licence.

The suspects are: MV Ekpere Amaka (vessel), Eliaja Agoso, Assayomo Julius, Godwin Ajimosun, Jerome Nwaobi, Ukpe Wisdom, Bayonle-Jude Olawunmi, Vincent Antai and John Zola.

Others are: MT Zeebrugge(vessel), Kapilarathana A.J, Yapa, Ramanayaka Appuhamilage Maithripala, Labunu Hewage Udayanga Silva, Shashika Yomal Palipana, Amarasinge Arachchige Dasman Chaml, Kariyawasan Wijewardbana and Joseph Felsianus Fernando.

They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them.

One of the counts reads: "That you, MV Ekpere Amaka, Eliaja Agoso, Assayomo Julius, Godwin Ajimosun, Jerome Nwaobi, Ukpe Wisdom, Bayonle-Jude Olawunmi, Vincent Antai and John Zola, on the 25th of December, 2019, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in 85 metric tons of petroleum products without appropriate licence; and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act."

Another count reads: "That you, MT Zeebrugge, Kapilarathana A.J. Yapa, Ramanayaka Appuhamilage Maithripala, Labunu Hewage Udayanga Silva, Shashika Yomal Palipana, Amarasinge Arachchige Dasman Chaml, Kariyawasan Wijewardbana and Joseph Felsianus Fernando on the 12th of December, 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in 838.5 metric tons of petroleum products without appropriate licence; and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act."

In view of their pleas, Oyedepo, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in the correctional facility pending the outcome of the case.

Defence counsel, Paul Ediga, told the court that applications for bail had been filed and served on the prosecution.

Ediga, therefore, prayed the court for a short date to move the bail applications.

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case until March 16, 2020 for commencement of trial and hearing of the bail applications.

The Judge also ordered the defendants to be remanded in the correctional facility pending the determination of their bail applications.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 4, 2020, arraigned a couple, Oladeji and Omotola Henry, alongside their company, Built Global Concept, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N553,820,000.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty-three Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira).

One of the counts reads: “That you, Oladeji Henry, Omotola Henry and Built Global Concept, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to dishonestly convert to the use of Abiodun Semawon Henry the total sum of N410,170,000.00 (Four Hundred and Ten Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira), property of Smart Investor Club; and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 (2)(f) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011."

Another count reads: “That you, Oladeji Henry, Omotola Henry and Built Global Concept, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to dishonestly convert to the use of Abiodun Semawon Henry the total sum of N70,000,000.00 (Seventy Million Naira) property of Julius Ekonorue and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 280 (1)(b) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011."

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCS.

Defece counsel, Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, informed the court of a pending bail application for his clients and also prayed for a short date to enable its hearing.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the matter until March 9, 2020 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

The defendants were ordered to be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Services, Kirikiri, Lagos.

A Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday nullified the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

An Abuja High Court had on Wednesday suspended Oshiomhole as APC’s National Chairman.

But in Thursday’s ruling, the Kano court set aside the ruling of the FCT High Court.

Justice Lewis Allagoa ordered the police and Department of State Service (DSS) to provide security for Oshiomhole to resume in his office, Channels TV reports.

However, hours after the ruling, Oshiomhole appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The Kano high court ruling was reportedly delivered by Justice Lewis Allagoa. But it is yet unclear who filed the case or whether the court has the jurisdiction to set aside the previous ruling.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has insisted he remains the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the order of an Abuja Federal High Court early Wednesday that he should vacate office.

Simon Ebegbulem, chief Press Secretary said, Oshiomhole remains the Chairman because APC’s lawyers had filed for a stay of execution of the judgment ordering his removal from office.

“Our legal department is studying the matter and we have filed for a stay of execution and appealed the ruling.

“With those processes, Oshiomhole remains the National Chairman of the party,” Ebegbulem said.

In a stunning ruling on Wednesday, Justice Danlami Senchi, directed the APC to desist from acknowledging Oshiomhole as its chairman. He also directed the party not to allow him access to its secretariat, pending the hearing and determination of the case on 7 April.

The judge gave the ruling on an application of interlocutory injunction by six members of the party,

In the application, the plaintiffs, led by Mustapha Salihu, prayed the court to stop Oshiomhole from acting as APC chairman since he had been suspended as a member of the party in his Etsako Ward 10 in Edo State.

They listed Oshiomhole as first respondent and the APC as second respondent in the application filed on their behalf by Oluwole Afolabi.

The plaintiffs stated that Oshiomhole’s rights as a member of the party had ceased by virtue of his suspension at the ward level. They argued that, since the former Edo State governor never contested the suspension, he could not continue to act as the party’s chairman.

Justice Senchi said the former governor, who on his Twitter handle describes himself as “Strategic General Chairman,” had been wrongfully kept in office.

Oshiomhole replies traducers: I am still APC chairman

Thursday, March 5, 2020 12:38 am | Daily News Headlines | 2 Comment(s)

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has insisted he remains the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the order of an Abuja Federal High Court early Wednesday that he should vacate office.

Simon Ebegbulem, chief Press Secretary said, Oshiomhole remains the Chairman because APC’s lawyers had filed for a stay of execution of the judgment ordering his removal from office.

“Our legal department is studying the matter and we have filed for a stay of execution and appealed the ruling.

“With those processes, Oshiomhole remains the National Chairman of the party,” Ebegbulem said.

In a stunning ruling on Wednesday, Justice Danlami Senchi, directed the APC to desist from acknowledging Oshiomhole as its chairman. He also directed the party not to allow him access to its secretariat, pending the hearing and determination of the case on 7 April.

The judge gave the ruling on an application of interlocutory injunction by six members of the party,

In the application, the plaintiffs, led by Mustapha Salihu, prayed the court to stop Oshiomhole from acting as APC chairman since he had been suspended as a member of the party in his Etsako Ward 10 in Edo State.

They listed Oshiomhole as first respondent and the APC as second respondent in the application filed on their behalf by Oluwole Afolabi.

The plaintiffs stated that Oshiomhole’s rights as a member of the party had ceased by virtue of his suspension at the ward level. They argued that, since the former Edo State governor never contested the suspension, he could not continue to act as the party’s chairman.

Justice Senchi said the former governor, who on his Twitter handle describes himself as “Strategic General Chairman,” had been wrongfully kept in office.

Justice Senchi, who held that political parties must be bound by their constitutions, said he was of the view that since Oshiomhole had been suspended by his ward, he had no basis parading himself as the APC national chairman.

He thereafter adjourned hearing of the substantive suit till April 7, 2020.

The policemen arrived in two batches from the FCT Command and Wuse Divisional Police Station at about 5pm in nine Toyota Hilux vans. This was after two court officers served the Legal Department of the APC the High Court order.

They positioned themselves in strategic positions in the premises and directed all staff members to go back to their offices. Visitors were advised to leave.

Sources within the secretariat said the presence of the security agents was to prevent hoodlums capitalising on the confusion arising from the court ruling to invade the secretariat.

Acting National Secretary of the party, Chief Victor Giadom, confirmed that the party had received the court order and will abide by the content.

“We have received the court order and as a law abiding party, we shall respect it,” Giadom told reporter in Abuja.

He added: “As a party, we are aware of the court injunction. As a law abiding party, we respect all lawful court orders. Very soon, the National Working Committee will meet and you will hear further from the party.

“I am trying to say that APC will respect all lawful court orders. We will soon do that.”

The acting national secretary defended the presence of the security agents at the secretariat, saying: “there is nothing new about it.”

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has hailed the ruling of Abuja Federal High Court which bars Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, from parading himself as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Governor stated this while addressing party members during the Edo South Senatorial rally of the APC in Benin City, the State capital.

Obaseki who has been at daggers drawn with Oshiomhole over the soul of the party in Edo State described the ruling as God’s plan and a right decision for the party which calls for a thanksgiving to celebrate it.

“When we planned this meeting last week to meet with all our executives, we did not know that God has plan for us today.

“No man is God. God is God. No man can play God. With what God has done today, what we should do now is to just thank him.

“The meaning of what happened today is that peace has now finally come to our party. The purpose of God for Nigeria in our party will now be fulfilled.

“My problem with Comrade Oshiomhole is that when people started saying that they were Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), I called him and urged him to denounce them.

“I told him to come out and say something. I told him ‘Comrade, denounce them, you are the national chairman; dissociate yourself from these people that are destroying our party.’ Up till today, he did not.”

Obaseki however said that the decision of the court barring Oshiomhole from parading himself as national chairman of the APC does not make him a happy man.

“The court has taken the right decision today, but it does not make me a happy person because it would not have come to this.

“So, my message today is, when a child puts his hands in feces, you do not cut off that hand, you take that hand and wash it.

“And for those our members who have been misled, we cannot practice our democracy the way it was in 1983,” the Governor said.

A 56-year old man, Chucks Ukah, has landed in trouble after he was allegedly caught having sex with an 11-year old girl in his house in Lagos.

According to P.M.EXPRESS the incident happened at Adeshiyan Street, Ilupeju area of Lagos, where the suspect resides with the victim’s parents.

The Police alleged that the suspect, Mr. Ukah, lured the victim into his apartment and engaged her in marathon sex between 6th to 11th February, 2020.

After days of searching, the victim was later traced to his apartment and the alleged molestation was reported to the Police at Ilupeju Division. He was then arrested and detained for interrogation.

It was gathered that during interrogation, the suspect, Mr. Ukah, admitted that he slept with her severally and that the victim was his lover despite the fact that he was married.

The Police found him culpable because of the age of the victim and later charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.

When he was brought to Court, his plea was not taken after the prosecutor, Mr. Christopher John, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice because the victim was still a minor.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. P.E Nwaka, ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody without an option of bail.

The Court also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to the DPP for advice while the defendant will be in prison custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice. The matter was adjourned till 18th March, 2020.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the matter may be transferred to the High Court if the DPP finds him culpable and recommends that he should be tried for the alleged offence.

Ghanaian actress, film producer and singer, Juliet Ibrahim is 34!

The curvy Ghanaian actress yesterday took to her Instagram page to share some amazing photos of herself while appreciating God for the gift of life as she turns a year older.

She wrote:

“Men may not understand
How far You’ve brought me
They may not understand
I worship You today
Jesus ome kannaya
I worship you today… The doer of all good things
Whatever You say comes to pass
Onye di nso (Holy One)
The only precious lamb of God
When You’re involved things change
I can’t imagine what I would be without You
Go without You, Can’t live without You.
Thank You Lord for another year! #atoasttolife #March3rd #happybirthdayqueen”

For her photoshoot, Juliet was clad in a black lingerie-inspired ensemble, which she rocked graciously while striking poses on the beach.

Her outfit is a matching corset and lacy skirt that oozed sultriness which she finished off with a tiara and blond hairdo. She also wore an embellished gold outfit which she finished off with a silver tiara and a pair of fashion glasses.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sokoto State Command, has arrested a woman who had been on the watchlist for 10 years and 18 other drug dealers.

The NDLEA Sokoto Commander, Mr Yakubu Kibo told newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto that all the suspects were arrested in February.

“We arrested a very notorious cannabis sativa dealer in the state, Madam Queen from Raymond Village.

”Madam Queen has been on our watch list for the past 10 years and on the 28th of February, she was arrested alongside her sales boy.

“This time around, it was not limited to cannabis sativa. She is now a multi-illicit drug dealer. Apart from the cannabis we seized from her, other drugs including pentazocine injection were also found with her,” he said.

He said pentazocine is a dangerous injection which is class ‘A’ in prohibited drugs worldwide.

The commander revealed that another notorious business centre of one Ali Custom was also raided on two occasions at Kofar Marke, Rukubawa area and 97.750kg of illicit drugs were seized.

He said NDLEA had also returned sanity to popular Sokoto Hotel as well as raided a lot of other black spots in the state in February.

He said the command made a total seizure of 141.534kg of illicit drugs during the month.

According to him, the illicit drugs include cannabis sativa 134.128kg and psychotropic substances which includes tramadol diazepam and pentazocine injection.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, re-arraigned social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, in a Federal High Court Lagos, for alleged N32.9billion fraud.

Mompha was first arraigned by the commission on 14 counts bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He was arraigned alongside his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd.

The EFCC Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court of a second amended charge against the defendant and urged the court to allow a fresh plea by the defendant.

The amended 22 count charges were read over to the defendant and he pleaded not guilty.

After his plea, defence counsel Mr Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable him study the new charge.

He told the court that he had only seen the new charge a few minutes ago before the court commenced sitting and consequently, urged the court to allow him study same.

Justice Mohammed Liman ordered that the defendant’s bail of N100 million continues.

Following the agreement of parties, the court adjourned the case until March 18 for the continuation of trial.

So far in the trial, the commission had called witnesses from commercial banks, CBN as well as the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML),

In the charge, EFCC accused the defendant of procuring Ismalob Global Investment Ltd and retaining in its account, an aggregate sum of N32.9billion between 2015 and 2018.

The Prosecution alleged that Mompha laundered the sum through Ismalob Global Investment Ltd.

Both defendants were alleged to have negotiated foreign exchange transactions in various sums like N9.4million, N20 million, N10.4 million, N2.4million, N100million, N61million, N40.7million, N42million among others.

Mompha was alleged to have aided the Ismalob to retain an aggregate sum of N14billion in its account, which was procured from Pitacalize Ltd.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15(2) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.2011 as amended.

Adams Oshiomhole has been suspended as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress by an FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja.

Delivering a ruling on an application for an interlocutory injunction, Justice Danlami Senchi, ordered Oshiomhole to remain on suspension pending the determination of the main suit.

The court held that the party wrongfully continued to retain him as its National Chairman while he is under suspension as a member of the party.

The judge, therefore, ordered Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the party and directed the party to cease acknowledging him in that regard.

He also ordered the party to deny him access to the party secretariat.

(Punch NG Reports)

Benue State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the release of Rev. Fr. David Echioda, a priest of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, who was abducted on March 1 in Ado Local Government Area of the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone in Makurdi that no ransom was paid for his release.

NAN reports that Fr. Echioda was currently attached to Minor Seminary, Otukpo.

Anene further explained that the priest regained freedom on Tuesday night and unhurt, adding that the force is still going after his abductors.

NAN recalls that the priest was abducted along Igumale-Otukpo Road in Ado Local Government Area.

NAN further reports that Ado has recorded several cases of kidnappings, thuggery, militias, and armed robbery overtime.

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said the Chinese man quarantined in the State has tested negative to Coronavirus.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this on Tuesday evening, saying that the man who arrived on Monday evening on Ethiopian Airline with cough was tested negative for Coronavirus.

The Chinese, Si Wenqhuan was coughing seriously at the airport and had to be taken into isolation immediately.

Abayomi had earlier in the day confirmed at a news conference that a Chinese national who came into Lagos on Monday evening has been quarantined.

He had said the Chinese national arrived Lagos aboard Ethiopian Airline and was taken into isolation when he began to manifest symptom of Coronavirus.

Abayomi had said that samples had been collected from the Chinese national for test to determine if he is positive to Coronavirus.