Nigeria’s First lady, Aisha Buhari has directed all her staff to proceed on leave until further notice.
The announcement was made in a statement released on the official Instagram account of the first lady and signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Office of the First Lady on Health and Development Partners, Mohammed Kamal.
He further stated that official engagements and work will continue virtually.
“This serves to inform all staff that the office of the First Lady will be closed for the upcoming festive period of Christmas and New Year.
“To this end, all staff are requested to proceed on leave, until further notice.
“Please note that official engagements and work can also continue virtually as it was done previously”
In another development, Aisha Buhari has denied social media reports that she is pregnant and expecting a baby.
Naija News reports that some pictures emerged online which has made Nigerians question if the wife of the President is pregnant.
The pictures were taken during the return of President Buhari and Aisha Buhari from Turkey where they attended the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin on Monday, spokesman of the first lady, Sulaiman Haruna, denied reports that his principal is expecting another child.
The former lawmaker representing Kogi Central district, Dino Melaye, has threatened to lead Nigerians to the streets for protest if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 into law.
Naija News had earlier reported that the President on Monday rejected the bill which was earlier passed by the National Assembly.
Buhari returned the bill to the National Assembly and asked the lawmakers to work on the clause that has to do with direct primaries and return the document for assent.
Melaye in an interview with Channels Tv on Tuesday said if the country does not get it right, everything will continue to go wrong.
He said, “If Buhari refuses to sign the electoral bill, he will know that Nigeria is not the Banana Republic. I will lead Nigerians to the streets for protest. A kind of protest you have not seen before and I am not afraid of anybody. This country belongs to all of us.
“Everything needed to revive this country is dependent on our electoral processes, once we don’t get that right, everything will continue to go wrong.
“I am for direct primary because democracy is supposed to be a government of the people by the people and for the people. Asking delegates to determine the faith of millions of people, is not democracy”.
A 30-year-old man named Wallen Undi has landed in the police net after brutally killing his parents in Lilongwe District, Malawi.
Insp. Hastings Chingalu, who is the spokesperson for Lilongwe Police, confirmed the incident in a statement that said the suspect killed his parents for an unknown reason at Malimbwe Village (Chitedze area), Traditional Authority Malili in Lilongwe on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
Wallen Undi’s parents identified as Williams Lester Undi, 72, and Molly Undi, 68, and are both from the same Malimbwe village.
According to reports, Wallen had killed his parents on Sunday afternoon after his elder sibling Wiza, 32, had left for a walk somewhere.
After returning from his walk, Wiza tried to gain access into the home only to discover the doors were locked, he then decided to go and spend a night at one of their relatives’ houses.
Coming back to the house on Monday morning, December 20, 2021, Wiza, discovered his parents lying in a pool of blood after they have been hacked to death.
According to Insp. Chigalu Wallen, the suspect who is believed to be of unsound mind, was found and arrested by the police right in the house while hiding in one of the rooms.
Meanwhile, both bodies are now at Kamuzu Central Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem.
DR DK OLUKOYA OF MFM LAUNCHES OVER 3O YEARS MUSIC COMPILATIONS CATALOGUE
He is known and called so many different names globally,depends on the side of him you meet and experience as an individual or a collective body.
Some generally call him GO, to some daddy, to some, a helper, for some a God’s general and to many others a philanthropist, a humanitarian, Gods battle axe of deliverance, a scientist, a giver, a blessing to mankind, an Elijah of our time and so on, but little do so many know that this wonderful father and loving husband who is the founder and General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries is a MASTER MUSICIAN, a composer, an organist and A song writer that has been penning down tunes and melodies for so many years.
In a few days, one of the most valuable music catalogues of CHORAL AND SOLO COMPOSITION will be launched, first of its kind in the world. I stand to be corrected but I think its one of the most voluminous African Arts music compilations, that will ever be released at a time, an art of over 30 years of hard work.
So, are you a musician? Composer? A classical Music Lover? keep the 25th of December in your diary and join the unveiling at THE GRACE HALL MFM INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS YABA LAGOS NIGERIA and experience music like never before.
A screengrab taken on October 12, 2021, shows some lawmakers during plenary in the Senate chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
The Senate has gone into a closed-door session a day after reports emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari had declined assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill.
A source told Channels Television that the lawmakers are discussing President Buhari’s letter to them in which he explained his refusal to sign the bill.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan is expected to read the President’s letter during the plenary session on Tuesday.
Dreamfo Foundation Lagos Celebrates Widows, Widowers’ Children At Xmas Talent Hunt
The city of Lagos was set agog when Dreamfo Foundation gathered more than 300 widows, widowers’ children to throw a lavish special Xmas party and to allow the children to showcase their God’s given talents in the areas of modeling, fashion parade, songs/musical showbiz and dancing competition.
As organised, each category has first and second runner-ups and attached with reasonable, commendable and laudable prizes.
It was a gracious moment when the chairman committee for the programme, Olugbenga Sholarin engaged Oluwaseun Fabiyi, publisher of BethNews Media in a brief discussion. He said this stands as first event Dreamfo Foundation will be organising for Widows widowers Children in Nigeria, especially in Lagos. Saying further, it is necessary we cater for our children and always make them happy.
Mrs Olubunmi Ojo Afolabi a quintessential woman of repute and selfless service/support woman to humanity is the founder of Dr. Olusegun Afolabi Memorial Foundation (Dreamfo). She hails from Akure in Ondo State Nigeria and was married to Dr. Olusegun Emmanuel Afolabi for eleven years before his demise as a result of cancer some years ago.
Olubunmi, holds a B. Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ondo State University,Ado Ekiti, Msc Information Technology from University of Greenwich in London and another Msc in Social work from London Metropolitan University.
During a phone conversation with Oluwaseun Fabiyi, her media consultant/publicist she described Dreamfo Foundation as an international organisation registered in Nigeria and known as one of the reputable charity foundations aimed at empowering widows, widowers and less privileged who seem to have lost their hopes of survival as the foundation has just demonstrated its great passion and relentless efforts to show kindness and to put smiles on the faces of some Lagos widows, widowers by gathering over 300 of their children for talent hunt to showcases their God’s given talents.
The memorable children Xmas fun/talent hunt was graciously attended by the parents of the participants, some dignitaries including five panel of judges who are Dr. Kunle Hamilton, Age Anthony, Ola Onabajo, Tosin Faleye and Sunday Adeyemi.
“We look forward to always Celebrating widows, widowers children at all cost and to do more in the years to come.” Olubunmi Ojo Afolabi added.
Talented Nigerian actor, Damola Olatunji has been allegedly detained at the Area P Police Command, Abesan, Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State.
The Nollywood actor announced the development, in an SOS message sent out on Monday.
Olatunji in the message wrote, “They are detaining me at Area P, police station for standing up for the bike man.”
The popular actor had confronted a police officer for allegedly slapping his personal assistant at Abule Egba on Monday.
According to Olatunji, the issue with the police officers started after he asked them to release a motorcycle seized from a rider.
The actor during an Instagram live video could be seen accusing officers of the Nigerian police of extorting the public and “making life difficult for everyone.”
A police officer could be seen trying to hide his face from the camera as the actor recorded the incident, Olatunji, however, has deleted the video from his page.
The General Overseer of the Omega Fire International Ministry (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleman, has advised single men not to give money to any woman they are not married to during this Christmas season.
Apostle Suleman made this known during church service where he bemoaned 21st-century relationships. He noted that single men should not neglect their mothers and families who took care of them whilst focusing on their girlfriends.
He noted that women only aim to exploit men to meet their financial needs and nothing else.
“A young man meet a lady and the next thing she said is, what will you give me? Is relationship a business transaction? If a lady ask you what you will give her, you too ask her what she will give you or what has she given you. Don’t neglect your mother and gives money to a lady you’re not married to.
“I’m advising you so that you won’t spend your Christmas in pain. Your mother is in the village, your siblings have not eaten, your parent are stranded yet you’re gathering Christmas money to give to a lady you’re not married to.
“Can I give you an advice? If anyone is putting you under pressure this December, turn off your phone and put it on in January, if you can’t handle pressure. Only turn it on if you want to talk to relevant people. Don’t give money to any lady this Christmas, take care of your family” Apostle Suleman.
Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said that the fight against insurgency and banditry will be won with the use of drones and other technological equipment.
Speaking on Monday during an appearance on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Shehu said the equipment will be provided by the Turkish government.
According to Shehu, some of the military support and equipment will be given free of charge to the country while others will be paid for by the Nigerian government.
He stated that this is one of the things discussed at the third edition of the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul over the weekend.
Shehu asserted that Nigeria will be working with Turkey on the provision of military support by 2022, adding that the Turkish military will not be coming to Nigeria.
He said: “Turkey has gained a lot of respect globally in the last 10 years. As a military power, as a producer of military equipment, and as an influencer globally, Turkey’s role in Iraq and Syria was decisive in the defeat of ISIS. If Lybia induces a rate of stability today, it is the account of Turkey braving it and challenging the big powers there.
“In Azerbaijan, you saw what happened. We are not in any way thinking that Turkey’s military would be in the country. We are a very proud country and actually, this has not happened before and it is not likely to happen. But it is the technology that everyone is using to fight crime.
“The president of Turkey said ‘we will come along with you; we will support you’. So, going forward, we hope that as we are going into the new year in January, we will expect some establishment people from their defence so that we can now concretely sign onto what to do.
“We expect that they will give us military support and equipment that we may not have to pay for; some we will pay for. But we went to get Turkey to seek support, especially their technology in dealing with the situation of insecurity.
“The deployment of drones is the game-changer in other regions and Libya. It is the deployment of even phone technologies and ICT skills that most countries in the world are using to combat crimes. We are not doing much of that in this country, so we expect that we will make advances in that regard.”
THAT THERE MAY BE JUSTICE FOR KEREN AKPAGHER By Ambrose Omoregie
Last week, the Nigerian Police conducted an autopsy on the body of the Late Sylvester Omoroni of Dowen College. The body was thereafter released to the family for burial while the Police would continue with its investigation.
The autopsy was said to have been witnessed by the family of the deceased, families of the students accused of the act of bullying as well as the police and State Ministry of Health officials. Autopsy, as is known all over the world, is the first and most basic legal pointer in investigating cause of death.
Remarkably all the parties in the Omoroni case are maintaining a commendable level of maturity and keen determination to cooperate and support the police investigation and ensure that the rule of law is allowed to operate unhindered, even as each party wants justice served.
It would be recalled that the Late Sylvester Omoroni was a JSS 2 student of Dowen College who was alleged to have been bullied by some fellow students in what later led to the death of the youngster. Thanks to the video released by the Omoroni family, the whole nation was able to listen to the disclosure by Sylvester on how he was bullied. Public sentiments was built on, at least, a foundation of verifiable disclosure.
Sadly, there is another case- the case of Keren Akpagher, the late student of Premiere Academy, Abuja- which also is being investigated by the police but appears to have become, of late, an agenda for serving a purpose beyond seeking justice for the dead.
As in the Omoroni case, the police had conducted an autopsy in July on the corpse of Keren Akpagher in the presence of all the parties involved in the case. Customarily, the result of the autopsy would have been read to the parties while police would continue its investigation.
Thankfully, the BBC has done a story – https://bbc.com/pidgin/tori-59453675 – in which it featured a screenshot of the said autopsy report. The cause of death is there for all to see.
Though the police has not publicly released the autopsy report and full report of its investigation, the BBC report has helped the public with a sneak preview of the autopsy report.
In spite of this public knowledge, the mother of Keren Akpagher, edged on by a fledgling body known as the Coalition of Gender Based Violence Responders, has continued to canvas a claim not supported by any autopsy report in a move that appears geared towards rousing public anger against the school and the entire police investigation process.
The matter is being investigated by the Inspector General of Police, at the request of Keren’s mother who requested that the investigation be transferred from the FCT Police to the IGP. That request was granted. The school was not known to have opposed it. The IGP table is the highest echelon of the police system. That is where the case is currently. It is, therefore, baffling that the same person that requested investigation to be transferred to a specific head of an institution would not allow the investigation to run its course but would rather seek to truncate it.
Could there have been two separate autopsy done on the corpse of the late Keren Akpagher? Was there another autopsy report known only to the mother and not to the other parties to the case, including the police?
Keren Akpagher’s mother and the NGO promoting her case in the court of public opinion need to be more forthcoming. To date, they have not shown the world the autopsy report upon which their claim of Keren’s death derives from. They have not shown the world a single audio or video recording of Keren’s confession or disclosure to them before she died to back the outlandish claims being pushed in the media. The Akpagher family, it should be stated, does not fit the profile of a rustic, illiterate and unintelligent family that would not understand how vital it is to get a weighty disclosure such as rape of their only daughter down on tape, audio or video.
There is also another baffling question of why Keren’s mother and the NGO would choose to rouse the social media against the school in what appears as seeking to build enough army of angry, misinformed people that could be mobilized to get the school shut down and/or vandalized at all cost? Why choose public incitement against another party in a case you are involved and that is under investigation? What is the Law Court for?
Curiously, throughout the various activities and undertakings of the group, there has been no single call on the police to speed up its investigation or release its reports. If truly, the aim is to get justice for the departed, why is the group not talking of occupying the Police Headquarters? Or, putting pressure on the public to get the IGP to act faster in the matter? Why, instead, is the talk about occupying the properties and residences of the owners of the school and their other businesses?
On the contrary, why is it only the school that has been calling on the police to publicly release the autopsy and investigation reports? To date, the school said, between August and December, it wrote the Police three times, pleading for the public release of the autopsy report and report of investigation in the case.
Why has Keren’s mother not made this her first demand, in the true spirit of seeking justice?
