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2023: I Will Solve Problems Buhari Could Not Solve If Elected President – Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pledged to tackle festering insecurity and poverty bedeviling the country if elected as president of Nigeria in 2023.

He made the pledge while addressing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates on Monday in Maiduguri.

Wike, who expressed confidence that the PDP would win the presidency in the next election, said that the APC has failed in tackling insecurity and economic security.

He lamented that people can no longer go to their farmlands or go about their legitimate businesses due to the insecurity.

“I came here today because there is a problem. And the problem is that Nigeria is dying and we must not allow Nigeria to die. We must rescue this country.

“So I came as a Nigerian, as a Member of People’s Democratic Party. As a party, I have never left from 1998 till now. As a party I have worked for and I will continue to work for, and I believe that Nigeria has hope. So I want to run for the presidency of this country under the PDP.

“As a country, we do not have any other country to run to. So I am here to offer myself to solve most of the problems that this APC administration could not solve.

“Before we were only hearing of insecurity in Borno state, but now it is all over the country. Hunger doesn’t know Muslims or Christians; insecurity does not know North or South.

“We need somebody who has the courage to fight insecurity in this country and I want to tell you that I have that courage. Every day is one excuse or the other. People can no longer go to their farms and you are talking about investing in agriculture.

“I want you to give me the ticket so that I can fly the flag of PDP to take over the power from APC,” said Wike.

Responding, the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Zanna Gaddama, noted that Wike’s consultative visit to Borno was to actualise his presidential aspiration.

According to him, Wike challenges the ruling APC on every national issue that affects the people across the country.

“You should support him to get the PDP presidential ticket,” he urged, adding that Rivers is the most secured state.

DStv, GOtv subscription: Tribunal directs Multichoice to revert to old prices

A Competition and Consumer Protection (CCP) tribunal sitting in Abuja has directed MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to maintain the status quo on its subscription packages, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

Multichoice is the owner of the satellite television services, DStv and Gotv — popular subscription-based platforms in Nigeria.

A three-member tribunal, presided over by Thomas Okosun, gave the order on Monday
following an oral application for adjournment moved by Jamiu Agoro, counsel for the firm, to enable him to respond to counter-affidavit and written address, including the contempt charge, filed against his client.

Agoro also said he had filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter.

Festus Onifade, a legal practitioner, had sued the company on behalf of himself and the coalition of Nigerian consumers.

While MultiChoice Nigeria Limited is the first defendant, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is the second respondent.

Onifade had prayed the tribunal for an order, restraining the firm from increasing subscription for its services and other products on April 1, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated and filed on March 30.

The tribunal had granted the ex-parte motion, directing parties to maintain “status quo antebellum” (to maintain the situation as it existed before).

But on Monday, Onfade said he had filed a written address and contempt proceedings against John Ugbe, managing director of MultiChoice, and the company’s directors for them to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for alleged disregard of the panel’s order made on March 30.

Checks by TheCable showed that the prices of DStv, GOtv packages have been increased to the new rates announced by the company.

When asked about disobeying the court’s order, Agoro said, “As much as the questions which the tribunal has posed, the issue has been where there is an order of the court and an aggrieved party who had either applied to set aside that order or had exercised its rights of appeal against that order, such party cannot be held to be in contempt of that order.”

He cited previous cases to back his arguments.

“So on that basis, as contained in this authorities and avalanche of others, we submit that we are not in contempt of order of this honourable tribunal,” he said.

He said in view of his application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal, “this court is to first inquire whether it has the jurisdiction to determine the application”.

Onifade said the matter was slated for the hearing of the motion on notice, seeking a perpetual restraining order against the firm pending the determination of the suit.

He said he also filed a counter-affidavit against a motion filed by the company challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear their application.

In a short ruling, Okosun ordered that the status quo be maintained antebellum, pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

“Having listened to arguments of counsel to parties and upon the argument of counsel to 1st defendant and 2nd defendant for adjournment to enable them file their processes, this matter shall be adjourned,” Okosun said.

“Therefore, an order of March 30 still subsists and parties shall maintain status quo antebellum.”

He adjourned the matter until May 5 for hearing.

One Dies, 12 Wounded In Failed Rivers’ Jailbreak

At least one inmate died, while 12 others were injured, during a fight that snowballed into an attempted jailbreak at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre on Monday.

It was gathered that two inmates were engaged in a fight, which led to the death of one of them, even as a protest ensued amongst other inmates.

The situation spiraled as many inmates tried to scale the facility’s high walls, but were repelled by a combined team of security operatives who shot outside the fence, with 12 of them sustaining serious injuries.

BREAKING: ‘Three’ killed as NURTW members engage in bloody fight in Lagos

Three persons have been reportedly killed as armed members the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) unleashed mayhem in Fagba area of Lagos State on Monday morning.

Recall that the Lagos State Chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), Alhaji Azeez Abiola, popularly known as Istijabah had earlier alerted security operatives of an imminent danger in the state.

Istijabah had been involved in a leadership tussle since the start of the year, with Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, the suspended Lagos State Chairman of the NURTW.

Istijabah’s TOOAN is a sub-component of NURTW in Lagos State. While MC Oluomo wants to have total control of TOOAN, Istijabah and his followers feel they should have their autonomy.

Speaking with Vanguard in a telephone conversation, Istijabah said the body language of some people suggests plans to launch an attack in some parts of Lagos this week.

His fears have now been confirmed as reports reaching this newspaper indicates that people have been killed by NURTW thugs on Monday morning. A tricycle was also burnt.

Police officers have arrived the scene, and have kept the situation under control.

Alleged domestic violence: FCT Police Arrest Husband Of Late Gospel Singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the deceased gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu.

The Command Spokespersons, DSP Josephine Udeh had confirmed his arrest in a phone conversation with THE WHISTLER on Sunday.

The mother of four children and indigene of Abia State reportedly died on Friday at an Abuja hospital after alleged domestic violence by her husband, Nwachukwu.

Udeh while confirming the situation, said Nwachukwu was arrested on Sunday after the younger brother to the deceased reported a case of “culpable homicide against one Mr Peter Nwachukwu who is a husband to the deceased.”

She added, “We picked him up and he is in our custody, Investigation is ongoing.”

Nwachukwu’s arrest came after the reports of his spouse’s death unravelled the situation of her marital situation that eventually led to her death.

Contrary to previous claims that the soul-driven singer had died due to throat cancer, many acquaintances, colleagues, neighbours and friends of the late singer had disclosed how high-handed Nwachukwu was in his marriage with Osinachi.

Many alleged that Nwachukwu was fond of physically abusing her while gagging her ministerial exploits. He had allegedly appointed himself manager over her art and proceeds.

The elder sister of the deceased, Favour Made in an interview said, “She did not die of cancer, The husband Mr Peter Nwachukwu hit her with his leg on the chest. All this while he had been beating her but my sister hid all that she was passing through from us.

“Before now, we told her to come out of the marriage, we told her that they are not divorcing, that it’s just separation. But she felt that God is against divorce.”

Nedro warm up for Unique Celebrity Nite honour

Sensational Afro-pop singer, Mamah Stanley Emeka popularly known as Nedro (D Fireboy), is currently warming up to grace this month’s edition of Unique Celebrity Nite (UCN) as a special guest. The multi-talented singer will be hosted alongside crew members of 03 Media, a top notch entertainment outfit.

Unique Celebrity Nite is a night of complete entertainment package where Nigeria’s finest talents from all walks of life are celebrated every last Wednesday of the month. It will hold on 27 April, 2022.

The monthly event is hosted by Unique Gentlemen’s Club, located at 37, Ogundana Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja-Lagos.

Speaking on the choice of Nedro and 03 Media Crew as the special guest of UCN, the Chairman, Mr Tony Ojo, said the honour is overdue.

“At UCN, we strictly celebrate unique people, who have broken barriers and carved a niche for themselves. Nedro perfectly fits into this category because we have been monitoring his progress over the years. He’s a unique and outstanding talent.

“On the other hand, we are all aware of the exploits of 03 Media Inc. an entertainment company that has effortlessly promoted Nigerian culture and artistes all over the world. Many A-list artistes have benefited from their international tours. It’s payback time for their hard work and diligence,” Mr Ojo said.

Nedro can simply be described as a complete entertainer. With his excellent vocal ability, electrifying stage craft and appealing physique, he is definitely a star to behold.

He has performed on big stages within and outside the shores of Nigeria and has worked with the likes of Patoranking, Skuki, Tosyn Bucknor (now late) N6 and DJ Secxy to mention a few.

Nigeria Police Force And Actors Guild Partner To Promote Value

In a bid to standardize the portrayal of the Nigeria Police Force in movies and other creative content produced by the Nigeria movie and entertainment industry, the Police has partnered with the leadership of the Nigeria Guild of Actors, and other relevant associations in the Nigeria entertainment industry.

This was made known on Sunday in a statement signed by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, acting Force Public Relations Officer and made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.

According to the statement, the NPF met with the leadership of the guild of actors recently at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to critically deliberate on topical issues of national security viz-a-viz intelligence gathering and community partnership.

The meeting also discussed areas of possible collaboration to shape positive thoughts and narratives, portray good values, and resuscitate Nigerian cultures through movies, skits, creative content, which would impress positively on the Nigerian public, add value to our system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out policing duties and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and career, and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria.

The President of the Guild of Actors, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, who was at the meeting in the company of his Senior Special Adviser on Military, Police, and other security agencies, Mr. Steve Eboh, appreciated the current leadership, especially the Inspector-General, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, for the opportunity to collaborate and promote good and meaningful ideals after twenty-four years of the Guild’s existence.

The NPF authority reiterated the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to brainstorm alongside the guild in harnessing the potentials within Nollywood to achieve seamless synergy aimed at building a change in narratives with regards to police portrayals in movies, skits, etc and other ideological perspectives that can improve internal security. The NPF equally assured that it has set up mechanisms to ensure prompt approvals of requests for uniforms, kits, and other police props in movie productions to stimulate required and seamless collaboration.

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine In Children Duvets, Seizes Drugged Milo Beverage

No less than 101 parcels of Cocaine concealed in eight children duvets have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to a signed statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy and made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, the illicit drug was brought into the country by a 52-year-old Brazilian returnee, Akudirinwa Hilary Uchenna who hails from Oru East Local Government area of Imo state.

He was arrested on Saturday 9th April at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha aboard Qatar Airline flight, while the 101 parcels of the class A drug with a gross weight of 13.2 kilogram were recovered from his only check-in bag.

During preliminary interview, Uchenna who claimed to be a carpenter confessed that he was to be paid N5million for trafficking the drug after successfully delivering the consignment in Lagos.

In a related development, big pellets of skunk concealed in detergent containers have been intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu. A 37-year-old South African returnee, Ezekwesili Afamefune brought in the consignment weighing 730grams aboard Ethiopian Airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ezekwesili is from Awka south local government area of Anambra state.

In Edo state, a 24-year-old drug dealer Christian John was arrested by NDLEA operatives in Egbeta, Ovia North East LGA for selling assorted illicit drugs which include sachets of drugged Milo beverage, cannabis sativa, swinol and tramadol tablets, while in Zamfara state, one Chibuzor Uba, 30, was arrested on Friday 8th April with 1,955 ampules of pentazocine at Kaura Namoda area of Zamfara state.

A cross-border drug trafficker, Stanley Chibuzor, 21, was on Friday 8th April arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of NDLEA stationed at Oron beach, Oron, Akwa Ibom state. The suspect who hails from Ihiala, Anambra state was nabbed with 11,190 tablets of Tramadol during the outward clearance of passengers traveling to Cameroon.

In Ondo state, a drug dealer who produces and sells skuchies, Oluwaseun Agboola, 25, was arrested on Thursday 7th April, at his Igoba, Second Gate, Akure residence where 73 bottles of skuchies weighing 77kg stocked in his kitchen were recovered. Skuchies are usually a mixture of Tramadol, Cannabis sativa, Codeine, Black Currant (popularly called Zobo) and water.

In Lagos, an early morning raid in the notorious Akala, Mushin area of the state on Saturday 9th April led to the seizure of 746.25 kilograms of cannabis.

While commending officers and men of the MMIA, AIIA, Edo, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Ondo state Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues across the country to remain focussed and abstain from acts capable of compromising or jeopardising the collective goal of ridding Nigeria of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

UBA’s 60th AGM, Elumelu Upholds Commitment to Exceed Growth Trajectory, Create Value for Shareholders

+ Shareholders Laud UBA’s Dividend Yield, Subsidiary Performance

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has assured shareholders and investors of its unwavering commitment to sustain its current growth trajectory even as its efforts at business diversification across Africa and beyond continues to yield increasing returns.

The Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who made this declaration at UBA’s 60th Annual General Meeting, which was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday April 7, 2022, noted that the bank’s strategic investment decisions over the past few years have indeed translated to huge returns for its investors, despite the challenging business environment witnessed in the last two years.

“I am proud of how as a Group, we have been able to further consolidate on the new capabilities we have built, novel customer solutions we have deployed, efficiency gains recorded and the growth prospects we have leveraged from a recovering world,” Elumelu stated, adding “These were the building blocks for the very strong financial performance and the growth delivered by your Group in 2021, further confirming the wisdom of the investments we made and the strategy we have pursued, to ensure the diversification and sustainability of our business model.”

Whilst expressing his delight to shareholders and customers who have stood with UBA for almost eight decades, Elumelu remained confident of the bank’s capacity to sustain this momentum especially as economic activities recover from the impact of the Covid -19 pandemic.

l-r: Executive Directors, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Mr. Chiugo Ndubisi, Ibrahim Puri; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, CON; Deputy Managing Director, Mr Oliver Alawuba; Executive Directors – Mr Chukwuma Nweke and Mr Ike Uche, at the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Abuja on Thursday.

“Our goal is to continue to build strong brand loyalty with our customers and create additional value for our shareholders, whose underlying support has positioned UBA for continued growth,” the Chairman noted.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, who went into details about the improved performance of the bank’s subsidiaries in the financial year under consideration, said, “We are happy that the global community recognises the role our Group is playing in the transformation of the African economic landscape through innovative and customer focused banking services.”

He pointed out that the bank’s business in the United Kingdom had specifically witnessed remarkable expansion, adding “As from July 2021, UBA UK started making profit, and even to date, they are still doing well, and the same can be said for many of our African subsidiaries. The truth is that we are driven by the opportunities and potential in each of the geographies that we invested in, and we are happy with what we have achieved so far’.

Shareholders who spoke at the meeting including Sir Sunny Nwosu, Alhaji Farouk Umar, Mr. Nonah Awoh, Mr. Patrick Ajuda, Mrs. Bisi Bakare and Chief Timothy Adesiyan, were unanimous in their commendation of the board and management of UBA, for the impressive financials which have translated to higher dividends for shareholders.

“Despite the economic situation UBA has been able to grow profitability and increase its customer base. If you compare the dividend with the share price of UBA, you will see that our dividend yield is very high. No bank in Nigeria has been able to achieve this, and I therefore commend the UBA board,” Umar noted in his remarks.

At the end of the 2021 financial year, UBA’s Profit Before Tax was impressive with a 20.3 percent growth to N153.1 billion, compared to N127.3 billion at the end of the 2020 financial year; while Profit After Tax rose grew by 8.7 percent to N118.7 billion in 2021, compared to N109.2 billion recorded the previous year. As a result, the Bank proposed a final dividend of 80 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo for the financial year ended December 31, 2021, bringing the total dividend for the year to N1.00 as the Bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of 20kobo.

United Bank for Africa Plc is Africa’s global bank, offering banking services to more than twenty seven million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With a presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France and its more recent operating license in the United Arab Emirates, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.

l-r: Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc. Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, CON; Company Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum; and Vice Chairman, Ambassador Joe Keshi at the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Abuja on Thursday.

l-r: Non-Executive Directors – Erelu Angela Adebayo, Ms Angela Aneke, Mrs Owanari Duke; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, CON; Non-Executive Directors –Hajia Aisha Hassan Baba and Mrs Caroline Anyanwu, at the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Abuja on Thursday.

‘Backstabbing is a habit’ – Omokri blast Osinbajo for contesting against Tinubu

Former Presidential Media aide, Reno Omokri has reacted to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration to run for President in 2023.

Omokri, in a tweet on Monday, shortly after Osinbajo’s live declaration broadcast on Channels TV, expressed surprise at the VP’s move adding that he has ‘backstabbed’ his benefactor and now fellow 2023 Presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It’s common knowledge that Osinbajo was brought into power by the former Lagos Governor and APC national leader. Omokri tweeted that if Osinbajo could do that to Tinubu, who is his former boss, he would do same to President Buhari.

“Wow! So, Osinbajo is declaring? If Osinbajo can stab Tinubu, who God used to make him what he is, in the back, then Buhari better hope he never becomes President.”

“Backstabbing is a habit. If Osinbajo can backstab Tinubu, he can definitely backstab Buhari after 2023!”

Osinbajo called on Nigerians to support his ambition adding that he will build on President Buhari’s legacy.