cover Archives - Page 399 of 632

FG Denies Abandoning Late Itunu In Cote d’Ivoire Prison, Demands Autospy

The Nigerian Government has denied abandoning one Itunu Babalola from Oyo State to die in a prison in Cote d’Ivoire.

It also called for full investigation into the circumstances leading to her death.

Reports of her demise went viral on Monday and Nigerians took to Twitter to vent their anger on the federal government over alleged negligence.

The Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the government followed up on the case even though she was convicted and sentenced by the host country’s judiciary

Dabiri-Erewa’s reaction was contained in a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

She said that even when Babalola contracted an illness, it was Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in the country that paid for her medical bills, aside making part payment to a lawyer to appeal her conviction.

“The staff of the Nigeria mission had also visited Itunu in prison, a distance of over four hours from Abidjan.

“While the appeal case was on , Itunu was said to have complications from diabetes and was rushed to the hospital.

“The fees for the treatment was paid by the Nigerian mission through the lawyer whose services were engaged by the mission; unfortunately, she died suddenly after a few days of admission at the Hospital.

“The Federal government of Nigeria has demanded for full autopsy on the sudden and mysterious death of Ìtùnú Babalola, a Nigerian, sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Côte Divoire for alleged human trafficking.

“Her death, will however, not stop the appeal in court in order to vindicate her of the charges against her,” NIDCOM had stated.

THE WHISTLER reported that the NIDCOM in conjunction with the Nigeria Mission in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, had on March 19, 2021 confirmed that Babalola from Oyo State was wrongfully held in a prison in that country after she was said to have reported a theft incident at her apartment to the country’s police in 2019.

Frank Edoho replies lady who called out Toke Makinwa as unfit host for Gulder Ultimate Search

Popular TV presenter, Frank Edoho weighs in on the controversy involving co-presenter, Toke Makinwa and a fan who questioned her competence as a host for Gulder Ultimate Search.

The fan had opined that the current host of GUS, Toke, is not the perfect fit for the show while referencing Frank Edoho in the context as a wrong choice for a beauty contest.

In response, the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire show host, Frank, corrected the lady by confirming that he once hosted a beauty pageant show twice in a row.

“Your analysis is absolutely wrong. Most TV hosts are versatile and aren’t restricted to one area of specialization. By the way, I hosted the Miss Africa University Beauty Pageant twice in a row. Some of us do a plethora of work, we just don’t like posting,” he wrote.

Frank Edoho responds to lady who called out Toke Makinwa as unfit host of Gulder Ultimate Search

WhiteMoney bags endorsement deal with GoTV Nigeria

Popular reality star, Hazel Oyeze Onou better known as Whitemoney bags an ambassadorial deal with GoTV Nigeria.

Taking to Instagram to announce the deal with the paid TV terrestrial service in Africa owned by broadcaster MultiChoice, Whitemoney appreciated the brand for bringing him on board their team.

WhiteMoney bags endorsement deal with GoTV Nigeria

“I Am Highly Pleased To Join @gotvng Family As Their Latest Ambassador.
I Feel So Honored To Be Part Of This Leading Pay Tv Entertainment Brand.
More So, As An Entertainer, I Also Have The Opportunity To Own My Show On This Platform And I Couldn’t Be Happier To Associate With A Pure Quality Entertainment Brand.

Looking Forward To The Exciting Journey With My New Family,” he wrote.

Foreign Rice Sold In Nigerian Market Not Good For Human Consumption–Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has claimed that the foreign rice smuggled into the Nigerian market is not good for human consumption.

Ahmad made the claim during a recent interview monitored by THE WHISTLER.

The minister while commenting on the gains of the Anchor Borrowers Programme which has gulped over N554.61bn also said Nigeria has become self sufficient in rice production.

Ahmed said, “We forget that we were importing rice into the country using foreign exchange that could be used for other things to import rice.

“So, the major benefit of the Anchored Borrowers Programme is that we are now actually all feeding ourselves with Nigerian rice and that is a huge achievement.

“We have become self-sufficient in rice production, we have also reached our target in maize production. We are still lagging behind in wheat production.

“Price of rice, which is the major staple consumed in the country, has been high. A bag sells for as high as N30,000.

“Unfortunately there’s a lot of distortion and the distortion is arising from smuggling of goods into the country, we have unpatriotic Nigerians that will bring rice that is poor quality, some of it not even fit for human consumption and come and dump it into the market making it problematic for the millers that are processing rice in the country to sell their own healthy high quality rice.

“In some cases, smugglers are even getting the rice for free, they rebag it and they bring it and sell it at a very low price making it problematic for the made in Nigeria rice.”

She said Nigerians have to understand that the imported rice is “rice that is classified not fit for human consumption in some countries and we have people that are unpatriotic enough to get it, bring it into our country and sell it for consumption.”

The minister said the market distortion does not mean that the commodity is not sufficient in the market.

She said “We don’t want a situation where we are subsidizing food, because we don’t want to create another subsidy. We are already battling with fuel subsidies. We are trying to exit it and it is a big problem.

“What we are doing is subsiding, encouraging and supporting the production of fertilizer. The Ministry of Agriculture is working towards bringing quality inputs and also they have research institutions that are developing quality inputs.

“Once we get the price of the input right, the price of fertilizer right, then it will reduce the high cost.”

Breaking: APC sacks publicity secretary for congratulating Soludo

The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has sacked its public secretary, Mr. Okelo Madukaife over alleged anti party activities, including congratulating the winner of the just concluded governorship election, Professor Charles Soludo.

The state chairman of the party, Mr. Basil Ejidike stated this at a press briefing in Awka. He said that Okelo was suspended in June this year and therefore has no reason to be parading himself as an official of APC.

But the embattled publicity secretary said the chairman is on his own, adding that he has been performing his duties as the spokesman of the party.

According to the party chairman, Okelo has continued to parade himself to the public as publicity secretary to the extent that he appeared on a national television to congratulate Prof Chukwuma Soludo as the winner of the governorship election when the party hierarchy was still studying the outcome of the exercise.

He recalled that Okelo did not challenge his suspension after a panel found him guilty.

Ejidike said: ” kelo was suspended in June this year. Someone who was suspended from the party went on air claiming to be making statements on behalf of the party and we feel disturbed. We feel that such a situation should not be allowed.

“If you are not with the party, you are not with it. You cannot be out of the party and still be speaking for the party.

“Since June 2021, Okelo has been raining abuses on APC and its leadership and to put the records straight, he has not been attending meetings and activities of the party.

“His suspension followed his indictment over his involvement in anti party activities.

“He has since then been replaced by the state assistant publicity secretary, Mr. Nonso Chinwuba in line with the constitution of the party.

“The party therefore enjoins the general public and the media in particular to desist from dealing with him as agent of APC. As it stands, Okelo Madukaife does not belong to APC.

On behalf of APC, I want to state that the statements credited to the suspended publicity secretary, Mr. Okelo Madukaife were not the position of the APC in Anambra State.

“We wish to state categorically that as far as the Anambra Governorship poll is concerned we have not congratulated anybody as the party is still studying the situation with a view to approaching the court to challenge the poll”.

Reminded the the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige and Director General of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Chief George Moghalu who are chieftains of the APC in state had already congratulated Soludo, Ejidike said they did that as individuals and not as officials of the party.

When contacted on the telephone, Madukaife said he remained the state’s publicity secretary.

He said: “I am still doing my work very effectively; discharging my duties as the publicity secretary of the party in the state.

“Our party cannot be sold to anybody. Our position that there were no governorship primaries in Anambra as stated by our chapter remains firm, fixed and unshakable. It’s the truth registered in the minds of all members of APC in the state.

“Ejidike is on his own. The whole chapter has discovered that he is a sellout; We have been managing him for the sake of our own image”.

Newly Appointed MD Of First Bank Holdings, Nnamdi Okonkwo Lands In EFCC Net

Nnamdi Okonkwo, the newly appointed Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to Premium Times, Okonkwo is being questioned over his role in the transfer of $153.3 million from the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) in favour of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former petroleum minister.

A source said that the banker, who was managing director of Fidelity Bank at the time of the incident, has remained in EFCC custody for at least three days, and it was unclear when he would be allowed to go home.

The EFCC had on April 28, 2016, detained Okonkwo over the same matter and later slammed a 14-count charge, including money laundering, on him. The status of the case is unclear as of the time of filing this report on Sunday morning.

It is also unclear if there are fresh evidences against the banker which has now necessitated a fresh round of investigation. EFCC officials contacted declined to provide details.

The board of FBN Holdings Plc had on October 28 appointed Mr Okonkwo the new GMD of the company with effect from January 1, 2022. He will succeed U.K. Eke, who will step down on December 31, according to the company’s note to the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

The board decision came five days after the chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Femi Otedola, declared his 5.07 per cent stake in the group, making him a substantial shareholder.

Breaking: Dangote Dies At 64 After Battling Terminal Disease

Nigerian businessman and multi-investor, Sani Dangote has been confirmed dead.
Reports reaching Naija News at this time confirmed that the younger brother of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote died after battling a terminal disease.

It was gathered that the Vice President of Dangote Group and a two-time President of Lagos Polo Club reportedly gave up the ghost at a United States of America hospital on Sunday evening, November 14.

Confirming Dangote’s demise in a short announcement on Sunday night, the Dangote group wrote: “INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAJIUN! It is with a heavy heart but with total submission to Almighty Allah that we announce the passing on of our Group Vice President, Alhaji Sani Dangote today 14th November 2021.

“May Allah SWT Grant him mercy and Admit him in Aljannat-al-Firdaus “!

The deceased before his death, hold major investments in key sectors of the economy including manufacturing, agriculture, banking, and oil services.

Dangote had sat on the board of several other companies, including Nigerian Textile Mills Plc, Nutra Sweet Limited, Gum Arabic Limited, Dangote Textile Mills Limited, Alsan Insurance Brokers, Dan-Hydro Company Limited, Dansa Food Processing Company Limited and Dangote Farms Limited.

The deceased was also a two-time President of Lagos Polo Club in addition to being a professional polo player.

He was also appointed as the Consul-General of the Romanian Embassy in Nigeria in recognition of his sterling leadership qualities.

Ndume Reveals How General Was Killed, Says ISWAP Regrouping In Lake Chad Axis

Senator Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has revealed that fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP, rammed a bomb-laddened car into the convoy of Brig-Gen. Dzarma Zirkusu.

Naija News had earlier reported that Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu, a Commander of the Army’s Special Forces was killed by ISWAP terrorists in an ambush attack which also resulted in the death of other soldiers.

The terrorists had launched an attack against a military base in Askira/Uba LGA of Borno State.

Though troops of Joint Task Force, North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ also killed several of ISWAP terrorists during the clash that ensued, some military operatives paid the supreme price in the defence of their nation.

The incident was confirmed in a statement to newsmen by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu.

Speaking to newsmen on Sunday while reacting to the attack, Ndume, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, said the late General Zirkusu had become a problem for the terrorists group hence their need to take him out.

According to the controversial lawmaker, ISWAP fighters are regrouping in Borno North, which is the Lake Chad axis.

He stated that the Nigerian Army have been able to take out top commanders of the Boko Haram faction in recent times.

Ndume, however, pointed out that the intensity of the attack on Askira was worrisome, urging other security agencies to give the Nigerian Army the needed support.

“I want to express my condolences to the Nigerian Army over the death of the General who died along Chibok road,” Ndume said.

“ISWAP terrorists attacked a town there. They know that the General was the major obstacle to their operation. They laid an ambush and rammed a bomb-laddened car into his vehicle.

“He was a gallant soldier. He took the fight to the terrorists. His death has sent panic to people in that area.

“I am aware that some people around that Chibok area have started thinking of relocating.

“Some want to go to Mubi and other places. We are trying to urge them to remain there. The insurgency is coming to an end.

“This is not the end, but the beginning of the end of terrorists. I know that the Army has what it takes to take the fight to them.

“There is a need to urge other security agencies to give the Army the needed support. We also need to urge vigilante groups to assist them.

“For now, we will assume that it was an isolated case. But the intensity with which they came is worrisome.

“They came with more than 10 gun trucks. They are also regrouping around Borno North. That’s the Lake Chad axis.

“The military is aware and the Air Force is providing surveillance in the area. It was a revenge mission. The Army has been taking out key ISWAP commanders and they had their revenge.

“Last week, for instance, they abducted relatives of the Emir of Askira. They also abducted some passengers along that road. If the Army sustains the temple, we will win this insurgency.

“The equipments are arriving gradually. We are monitoring. As a committee, we will go and see what had been brought into the country.

“This is an improvement. The Army is very rapid in responding. The Army is involved in about 33 states now. They’re under pressure.”

Sudan army general establishes ruling council with no civilian majority

Sudan’s army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has created a new ruling sovereign council with lawmakers from the main bloc seeking a transfer to civilian authority excluded.

According to state media, al-Burhan will continue to chair the council while Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, chief of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, will serve as deputy.

Witnesses say anti-coup protestors in the east of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, responded to al-Burhan’s actions by blocking highways and burning tyres. According to images shared on social media, similar demonstrations took place in other sections of the city.

Sudan’s deposed Information Minister, Hamza Balloul, claimed the declaration was a continuation of the coup, and he was convinced the Sudanese people would reject it.

“Burhan and his council’s decisions apply only to themselves, they have no legitimacy and will be met only with contempt and resistance,” said the Sudanese Professionals Association, a protest group.

The move happened more than two weeks after the army disbanded the sovereign council and civilian cabinet and imposed a state of emergency.

The international community strongly criticised the power grab, with the United Nations, Western nations, and Gulf states demanding the return of a civilian-led administration. Since then, national and international attempts to settle the conflict have been underway, while pro-democracy protestors have organised rallies condemning the coup.

The new action by al-Burhan was seen as “very concerning” by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wished to “see a return to the transition as quickly as possible”.

Source: Politics Nigeria

Days After Death Rumor, Olu Jacobs Steps Out With Wife, Joke Silva

Veteran Nollywood actor, Olu Jacobs has stepped out with his wife and veteran actress, Joke Silva to attend the Afriff Global award which was held in Lagos State.
This comes days after news of Olu Jacobs death began to make rounds like wildfire on social media.

In the photos shared by his wife via her social media handle, the 79-year old is looking hale and healthy.

Naija News recalls that Joke Silva, debunked damaging rumors’ that her husband and colleague, Olu Jacobs is dead.

This is coming after fans of the legendary actor expressed concerns over the new look of the 79-year-old actor, as he appeared to have lost a lot of weight.

However, in a chat with The PUNCH, Joke Silva said her husband was hale and hearty.

She said, “Good day good people. Trust you all are good? This is just to inform you that Sir J (Olu Jacobs MFR), as we fondly call him is alive and enjoying his singing lessons. He wants to add dancing but I have advised he wait a bit. So, to all those carrying false rumours, remember it is a criminal offence. Desist or legal action will be taken. Signed Joke Silva (MFR) AKA Mrs Ajoke Jacobs.”