Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson

MILD drama continued at the Kogi Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday as some witnesses disowned their depositions before the panel. This newspaper reports that four witnesses from Adavi Local Government Area of the state gave their evidence for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu and then denied and disowned evidences. The witnesses, when called, gave virtually the same narration regarding what transpired where they voted even though they were in different polling units during the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll. The four witnesses, like the previous ones,…

IN the last two weeks, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other banking institutions have improved dollar supply to the foreign exchange market by $2.5bn, making the naira strengthen to N1,309 against the United States dollar. Official figures obtained from the FMDQ Securities Exchange revealed that the naira closed at N1309/$1 on Thursday compared to the N1300/$1 recorded a day earlier. However, it still falls within the eight week low for the Naira as it continues to gain strength against the US dollar. Trading activities were closed on Friday due to the public holiday. Similarly, forex transactions between willing sellers…

GOVERNOR of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has approved the sum of one billion naira for the payment of gratuity backlog. The last time any payments were made was 13 years ago, in 2011 to be precise. Governor Kefas, while signing the approval, directed the ministry of finance to ensure immediate payments of the overdue entitlements. He regretted the delays and said his government would not abandon workers who had served their fatherland diligently. Apart from the initial one billion naira, the governor also approved that a sum of 200 million naira be set aside each month to offset the backlog…

THE Federal Government has declared Friday, 29th March and Monday, 1st April 2024 as public holidays to mark the 2024 Good Friday and Easter Monday respectively. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, urged Christians and all Nigerians in general to emulate the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ in dying for the redemption of man. A statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, on Wednesday, quoted the minister as saying that Easter promotes values of love, forgiveness and compassion which are essential for social…

THE star witness of the Social Democratic Party and its candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka, in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, in a dramatic twist, on Monday, told the Election Petition Tribunal that he was not in Kogi State on the day of the election. The star witness, who is a data analyst with the Independent National Electoral Commission,  said this as he completed his Evidence-In-Chief and was cross-examined after 11 long days of his testimony before the Tribunal. The witness, Abdulmalik Njidda, had earlier testified to events that took place during the election in Kogi State, with…

AS part of efforts aimed at preparing Miss Crystal Enato Sam-Ogbuku to participate in the forthcoming International Day of the Girl Child in Denmark later this year, the International Association of World Peace Advocates have announced that Amb Miss Crystal Enato Sam-Ogbuku will be addressing participants at this year’s International Mayor of Peace Summit coming up on Monday the 25th of March in Lagos, Nigeria According to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja the nation’s capital and signed by Amb Dr. Emmanuel Nkweke the International Spokesman of IAWPA, the association being concerned about the security challenges in the…

TWO students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi have lost their lives during the distribution of palliatives while 23 have been hospitalised. The Head of Information of the school, Abraham Habu, disclosed this to Channels Television via a telephone conversation. He said the school had received palliatives from the state government to distribute to the students to cushion the effect of the economic hardship. According to him, the palliatives were billed for distribution today at the convocation arena of the school before some students overpowered the security on ground, causing a stampede which resulted in death and injuries of the…

KOGI State Governor, Ahmed Ododo on Thursday, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the state of security in the state. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Ismaila Isah, said the governor during the visit, briefed President Tinubu on the security situation in Kogi State, including efforts by his administration to consistently improve on the security architecture, to enhance performance in securing lives and property in all parts of the state. The governor also commended President Tinubu on his efforts to ensure prompt intervention to address food security challenges in…

SOME residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and some areas in Kogi State are currently experiencing power outages due to technical glitches. The two areas are under the coverage of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. On Tuesday, the AEDC informed its customers in Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli and other parts of Abuja that a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station was responsible for the power outage. “The management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc wishes to notify its esteemed customers that there is currently a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from…

CIVIL Society Organisations and human rights lawyers have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to save the image of Nigeria by not prioritising political battles that are counterproductive to the robust anti-corruption policy of the President Bola Tinubu administration. The scores of acitivists and lawyers, under the broad umbrella of the Committee for The Defence of Democracy and Rule of Law, particularly noted that the seeming fixation of the anti-graft agency on particular targets, fierce media trial and the network of opposition figures publicly displaying their affinity with the Commission on particular matters easily reflected political hatchet jobs…

FOURTEEN people have been kidnapped by suspected bandits at Dogon Noma- Ungwan Gamo community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident comes barely a week after 61 people were kidnapped in Buda community also in Kajuru LGA. Police authorities have not confirmed the attack. However, a youth leader, Sani Musa, told this newspaper that the bandits in large numbers had in the early hours of Saturday invaded the Dogon Noma community. They started shooting sporadically, during which they abducted fourteen people while one person sustained injury. He gave the names of the kidnapped victims as Bulus Dandaura,…

THE Kogi State House of Assembly has approved two commissioner nominees sent to the house by the Governor of the State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. The Assembly confirmed the commissioner nominees on Tuesday during the house plenary in Lokoja. The Commissioner nominees confirmed include; Dr Adeniyi Helen Aderibigbe, (Ijumu) and Atuluku Levi Victor, from Omala State Constituency. Speaking to journalists shortly after her confirmation on Tuesday, Aderibigbe promised to put in her best in realising the campaign promises of the present administration. Aderibigbe reiterated her commitment to making Kogi State and Nigeria proud through hard work and diligence in her…

A SQUADRON leader, Nurudeen Popoola of the Nigerian Air Force, who was kidnapped in December last year by suspected bandits, has been released. This newspaper gathered on Saturday that the Airforce officer is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Popoola was abducted along with his wife, Ganiyat Olawale-Popoola, and one of their cousins, Abdulmumin Folaranmi at their residence adjacent National Eye Centre Quarters, Mando, Kaduna. A family member had earlier in February this year, appealed to the concerned authorities to ensure the release of the kidnapped victims. This newspaper learnt that the Airforce officer has been released after…

THE Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of one soldier and another wounded by suspected bandits at a village in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State where troops have been deployed to keep the peace over persistent attacks in the area. The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) Major General Sunday Iserihen Igbinomwanhia who confirmed this to newsmen on Monday said one personnel was killed and one injured. He said the troops in response killed three and injured several of the bandits, adding that one AK-47 and rounds of ammunition were recovered from them. Maj. General Sunday…

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the inspection order granted the candidate of the Social Democratic Party by the Governorship election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The governorship election petition tribunal had, on November 25, 2023, granted an Exparte Order, allowing the Social Democratic Party and its candidate in the 11th November, 2023 governorship election to carry out forensic examination of all the Bimordal Voters Accreditation system used in the governorship election, among other sundry reliefs. In a well reasoned ruling on Friday, delivered by a three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led…

INMATES at the Jos Correctional Centre in Plateau State protested on Friday over the plan to reduce their food ration. They expressed dissatisfaction over the decision, a situation that forced the prison authorities to fire tear gas canisters and gunshots into the air to bring the situation under control. Sources at the correctional centre indicated that the contractor in charge of food supply to the centre had complained to the authority about the high cost of food items, especially rice which is a stable menu of the inmates will have to be adjusted from four times to twice in a…

AT least 16 soldiers and one officer are currently facing court martial in Plateau State. The personnel facing the trial were accused of various offences, ranging from armed robbery, murder, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition, and selling same, contrary to their operational mandate within the 3rd Amoured Division. The inaugural sitting of the court martial it was learnt, took place at the 3rd Amoured Division , Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Nigerian Army in Bassa Local Government Area on Tuesday. The acting Deputy Director of Legal Services, 3 Division Nigerian Army, Maj. Aminu Mansur Mairuwa, who spoke after the inauguration of…

THE Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has begun the probe of former governor Samuel Ortom over government assets under his care from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023. As part of the probe, the governor has constituted two commissions of inquiries on income and expenditure, including contract awards, bailout funds and Paris Club refunds within the same period. During the inauguration of both commissions at the old banquet hall of the Benue State Government House, Governor Alia tasked the commission of inquiry on the sales and lease of government assets to investigate all agreements or sales that shortchanged…

MILITARY and police authorities have rescued 16 kidnap victims in Kogi State following a joint operation.  The Kogi State Police Command spokesman William Ovye Aya said eleven of the victims were abducted from a Peace Mass Transit (PMT) bus. “Consequent upon the kidnap of eleven passengers from a Peace Mass Transit bus and five others from a Sienna bus along Ette Enugu Ezike Road to the bush on 25th February 2024, the Joint Kogi Police and Military team from Enugu State promptly swung into action trailed and Rescued all the victims from the bush unhurt,” he said. “Efforts are ongoing…

SECURITY operatives including soldiers, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Crops (NSCDC) have taken over the popular Yankalli Market, one of major commodity markets in Plateau State, following an attempt by hoodlums to break in to steal food and other essential commodities. Daily Trust reports that the hoodlums including both males and females, arrived at the market around 8:00 pm on Friday but were intercepted by security operatives who had been deployed in anticipation of attack. Alhaji Jamilu Kabiru, chairman of a traders’ association, confirmed the development, stating that they had earlier reported to security agencies. He said “We…