Nigerians have commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for arraigning embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and six others over drug trafficking-related offences.
Naija News reports that the suspects were brought to the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday by officials of the anti-narcotics agency.
Others arraigned by the NDLEA include Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
The suspects were brought into the courtroom around 8am in two batches by armed operatives of the NDLEA.
The NDLEA had filed eight counts of hard drug trafficking against Kyari, who is also wanted in the United States for his relationship with the convicted fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abass.
Nigerians have taken to social media to express their views on the arraignment of the suspended commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and six other suspects.
Below are some of Nigerians’ reactions:
@BillionaireAff1 wrote: “Why are they hiding their faces? They should raise their head oh, let’s know them well.”
@Captainadey wrote: “Please why is he (are they) not in handcuffs, abi eye dey pain me ni.”
@Okenwahenry2 wrote: “They should fast hand them over to FBI.”
@ToniChukwuiwu wrote: “Let me know when they finally convict him.”
@Godseagle3ugo wrote: “Kyari must end up in jail he’s nothing but a mere criminal in a police uniform….messed up, super cop
@_chukwudi5 wrote: “Why are they putting on new clothes? Are they going to the fashion parade
@OlakunleOlaDoy1 wrote: “No handcuffs and still using expensive wristwatch and with latest native attire. Hopes this is not a seasoned film.“
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has reacted to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the party’s caretaker committee and its chairman, Mai Mala Buni.
In a swift response made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Phd, the national secretary of the party’s caretaker committee, the report was false. The statement read;
“Our attention has been drawn to sponsored media reports on an imaginary leadership change in the APC- CECPC.”
“The media report is fake news and should be disregarded. The APC is a progressive political party guided by rules. Leadership changes are not announced by ‘sources’ through name dropping in the media.”
“We urge our teeming supporters, members and indeed the general public to remain calm and support the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC CECPC conduct a rancour-free and credible National Convention deserving of our great party.”
The United States has revealed Ukraine’s strategy in the ongoing crisis rocking the country.
According to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ukrainians are ensuring continuity of government one way or another” should President Volodymyr Zelensky gets killed in the conflict with Russia.
He said this in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Blinken praised Zelensky for his tenacity during this dire period.
According to him: “The Ukrainians have plans in place that I am not going to talk about or get into any detail about to make sure that there is continuity of government one way or another, and I am going to leave it at that.
“The leadership that President Zelensky has shown, the entire government has shown is remarkable, they have been the embodiment of these incredibly brave Ukrainian people.”
A Northern group known as the Unified Northern Nigeria Youths Forum has staged a rally calling on Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to aspire to become Nigeria’s President in 2023.
The group at a rally organized in Kaduna endorsed Emefiele saying that the essence of their gathering and street procession was to call on Emefiele to vie for the number one seat in Nigeria.
The Spokesperson of the group, Mr Aliyu Muhammad Sani said the group was a coalition of forty (40) socio-cultural, socio-political and socio-economic groups with members spread across all the wards of the 19 Northern states and the FCT Abuja.
Comrade Sani said their reasons for calling on the CBN governor to contest were his “introduction of the Ancho-Borrowers Scheme which had helped to massively reduce poverty that was seen to be endemic in our region through the provision of farm inputs and one digit interest rate facility.
“His policies formulated have enhanced the establishment of many industries in our region worthy of mention such as Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Olams Industry, Vicampro, Tomato Jos, Gujeni Integrated, Iron Ore Mining and Processing Plants, Tiamin Rice Mill, MAFA Rice just to mention but a few. This also has created employment and wealth in our region.”
He added that, “Despite the sharp fall in oil price in 2014-2016, the economic nationalism of Mr Emefiele helped our states to stay afloat thereby preventing job loss while making it possible for states to carry out capital projects.
“His Interventions and policies of the CBN have made our country self-reliant in Rice and maize production. In few years to come, we shall begin to export these products thereby further strengthening our currency.”
Sani explained that “it is imperative to mention that agriculture is a catalyst for the industrial revolution and is central to the progress of any country like we have seen in many developed nations.
“It is on the strength of the above that we are here gathered to flag off this rally here in Kaduna state to enlighten the general public on the need to call on Mr Emefiele to contest for the president of this country and to encourage Dr Godwin Emefiele to dare the unknown and throw his hat in the ring and contest as the people of Northern Nigeria are with him and will stand with him through thick and thin,” he said.
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari on Sunday night visited some petrol stations in Abuja to ensure adequate distribution of petrol to Nigerians.
Kyari was accompanied on the inspection by the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage & Retail Infrastructure, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha and other top officials of the NNPC.
Speaking to journalists during the tour, the GMD expressed satisfaction that normalcy is beginning to return to the country though the loading of petrol at the depot.
He expressed optimism that with the 24 hour dispensing of petrol to motorists as well as the support being given by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva and the cooperation of security agencies and oil marketers, the petrol crisis will soon be over.
Kyari said, “We are happy normalcy is returning and we are loading products all over the country 24 hours, truck numbers are increasing, normalcy is returning gradually and we seeing that the situation in Lagos and Abuja has greatly improved. We are very sure that normalcy will return very soon.
“That is why we are here to ensure that our stations sell 24 hours and to make sure that normalcy quickly return to our country and of course what is also true is that Mr. President is constantly kept in the picture of what is happening.
“He is giving us all the direction and support that we require, we are very happy with the support that we have gotten from him including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Everything is on course.
“We are working very closely with the Authority that is trusted with regulating what is going on and we are working with government security agencies particularly the Department of State Services to ensure that product get to the station. We apologize to Nigerians that this difficulty is here and we are getting out of it.”
Also speaking, Ukoha commended the collaborative efforts by the NNPC, security agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring the seamless supply and truck out of products across the country.
He said, “There is collaboration between the Authority and the NNPC; the security agencies have also been very cooperative.
“The various marketing associations have also been collaborating and the depots, we are seeing truck out in many places 24 hours from Mondays to Sundays. So, if we keep up that momentum, within a few days as the GMD said, the queues will be over.”
On his part, the Station Dealer, NNPC Retail, Airport Road, Abuja, Mr. Aliyu Ilu, said that the station is open for business 24 hours and is receiving a steady supply of products.
He said, “Over the past three days we have had steady supply and the queues have lessen. All the cars today didn’t stay for more than an hour in the queue. The station is no more crowded as you can see, there is no much pressure. We have been operating 24 hours for the last three days.”
Award-winning Nigerian singer, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido may be fined £340,000(N190m) after surpassing 11pm 02 Arena curfew.
According to a Twitter user identified as Marvin Abbey, For every minute you go past 11pm at the arena, you have to pay £10,000.
He wrote: “Davido was suppose to finish his concert at the O2 @ 11pm. The O2 have a strict 11pm curfew. For every minute you go past 11pm you have to pay £10,000. Davido said he don’t care. He finished the concert at 23:34. That’s £340,000 fine. Mental! 😂😂
“For all the people saying I’m lying about the Davido tweet 🙄😅. The O2 curfew is nothing new. Read up on it, I don’t have time to argue. The Rolling Stones & Justin Bieber have also been fined in the past. It’s actually Greenwich council that issue the fine.
Verifying Abbey claims, another Twitter user, by the name Biyi posted a screenshot of the closing time of the 02Arena.
However, it remains unclear if Davido had negotiated an extension of time for the use of the facility before the show as the singer is yet to respond to claims that he would be fined for going beyond the time officially displayed on the event centre’s website.
Controversial Nigerian singer, Portable has advised his fans to stop comparing Wizkid and Davido.
This is coming after Davido sold out his O2 Arena, Naija News.
Portable stated via Twitter that both singers are very knowledgeable in their craft, therefore they should not be compared.
He wrote: “No dey compare Wizkid and Davido. Both of them sabi this thing, find peace.”
Below are Nigerians reactions to Portable’s advise.
YSparko: “normally in this life una fit both Sabi the work but boss go still dey.”
Adebayo Kunle: “Whoever won a Grammy ,sold more stadiums,did more numbers has more total award and it’s only big wiz”
Senior_pikin: “You sabi sing, olamide sabi sing why you still need olamide help to blow. There’s always a boss”
Mayor: “First sensible tweet. You are coming up zeh. “
ANASMATIX: “You will never see rich kids comparing Davido and Wizkid or arguing about them only the people poor.”
Maduka Okoye, Super Eagles goalkeeper was during Friday’s Dutch league match between his club, Sparta Rotterdam, and Vitesse Arnhem attacked by an angry fan.
This came after a middle-sized spectator broke into the pitch and approached Okoye’s penalty area, but the 23-year-old goalkeeper chased the invader, by gesturing authoritatively for him to get off the pitch.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was also hit by an object from the angry Vitesse home crowd, but Okoye still put up a man-of-the-match performance by saving a penalty to maintain Rotterdam’s 1 nil lead.
Maduka’s attack comes weeks after the goalkeeper’s team, lost out of AFCON 2021 after losing to Tunisia.
Following the violent behaviour of Vitesse Arnhem’s fans, the centre referee ended the match before the seven minutes injury time was exhausted.
The league’s governing body, issued a statement revealing that the match was discontinued due to multiple crowd troubles, including the use of flares.
The league body also noted that an investigation will be initiated and a decision taken on the result of the match.
“The match between Vitesse and Sparta has been discontinued tonight (March 4, 2022) at a 0-1 score due to fireworks from the (home) public,” the league body said.
“This was done after consultation of the referee with both clubs. The incident will now be investigated by the disciplinary committee.”
The Lagos State Government has sealed off Havillah Event Centre at Oniru on the island.
The event centre was said to be the venue of a party where the organisers distributed kegs of petrol souvenirs to those who attended the social gathering.
Video and photographs of the bizzare gift item distributed as the party which was held on Friday had gone viral.
It was gathered on Saturday that officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission and the Rapid Response Squad sealed the event centre for “Contravening Public Safety Rules”.
The Commissioner for Information in the state, Gbenga Omotoso, had in a statement vowed that those behind the action would be made to.account for it.
The statement read, “There is no doubt that this action is dangerous and can lead to loss of lives and property. It is blatantly against all safety measures in such places.
“The Lagos State Government through the Safety Commission is investigating this matter and will ensure that all parties to this reprehensible action are made to account for it.
“The safety of lives and properties of Lagosians and visitors remains a top priority to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
“We, therefore, advise that actions that can lead to loss of lives and properties be avoided. “
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday said some presidential aspirants should be in jail.
The elder statesman noted that some politician who are interested in becoming president should be in jail if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) performs its assignment.
Obasanjo stated this while speaking at an international symposium to mark his 85th birthday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The event was a teamed theme, ‘Africa Narrative with Nigeria Situation’.
He further stated that though he has received presidential aspirants at his residence, Obasanjo added that he has not endorsed any aspirants.
Obasanjo said that he is not sponsoring a presidential aspirant from the south in the 2023 general election.
The former president stated that he would take his time and consult before throwing his weight behind a presidential aspirant.
Obasanjo said, “As the quadrennial madness builds a head of steam and the runners and riders crisscross the nation in the quest for nomination as the party flag bearer to the highest office in the land, I read and hear about endorsement and statements in support of candidates that I frankly have not made and forming next political parties that I can never get involved in. I was told that social media credited to me the names of three people from the south that I am sponsoring for the Presidency in 2023.
“My friend, Professor Ango Abdullah, who brought this to my knowledge remarked that he did not believe that I made such a statement because it was out of my character. I have neither named names nor stated my position. In a situation like the one we are in, I will not rush into naming names without necessary consultations and well-defined principles and criteria. We need to be clear about what Nigeria needs today and why Nigeria needs it. Only then can we answer the question of how that will inform us of the criteria and characteristics for determining who.”
He said since democracy started in 1999, elections rather than progress in the country has been going back.
Obasanjo said, “Since 1999, we have changed from one political party or another we have manoeuvred and manipulated to the point that election results are no longer reflections of the will of the people and we seemed to be progressively going back rather than going forward politically, economically and socially.
“We have activities without requiting actions and personnel to move us forward. If we continue in the same pattern of recycling, sweet-word campaigning, manoeuvring without the substance of integrity, honesty, patriotism, commitment, outreach, courage, understanding of what makes a nation and what make for development, we will soon have to say goodbye to Nigeria as a nation.
“I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around and those for whom people are running around. If EFCC and ICPC will have done their jobs properly and been supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them would be in jail. Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have integrity in big things.”
He noted that henceforth, presidential aspirants must be x-rayed, profiled and must be educated.
Obasanjo said, “Such a person will have to lead what remains of the nation to courageously continue on the path of nation-building as a national team leader, no matter on what platform he or she assumes leadership. No one can do it alone. We must, however, stop sacrificing character, track records and performance on the altar of ethnic, regional or religious jingoism. As the watchman counts on daybreak, so too do I count on Nigerians and Nigeria to bring forth that person.”
