‘‘There Is No Biafra Flag On My Cloth, It Is Only Rising Sun’’ – Veteran Actor Tells Soldiers (VIDEO)
Society gazette reports that arrested veteran nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu has defended the outfit which he was arrested for by men of the nigerian army.
A video making rounds yesterday showed him being brutalized by soldier for wearing a Biafra flag outfit in public.
The Nigerian army made it known that he was inciting people to join IPOB despite the fact that the group has been proscribed as a terrorist group.
However, he was seen in another video telling the soldiers that he isn’t wearing a Biafra flag outfit but a rising sun imprint
Agu’s Detention: Arrest Gumi, Miyetti Allah Members – Reno Omokri Charges Army
A former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has reacted to the arrest of Nollywood veteran, Chiwetalu Agu by the Nigerian Army for canvassing for Biafra.
Naija News had earlier reported that the popular actor was molested by the military for wearing Biafra clothing.
Omokri in his reaction called on the Nigerian Army to arrest controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi and Miyetti Allah organizations for threatening Nigerians.
The Nigerian Army on Thursday arrested the actor while walking around the Upper Iweka Bridge in Anambra.
Agu was arrested by two soldiers while he was reportedly sharing food with the less privileged persons in the environs.
The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, while speaking on the incident said, Agu was arrested for inciting members of the public and soliciting support for the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Omokri, however, said the arrest of Agu while Gumi and Miyetti Allah members are free shows a lack of justice in Nigeria.
The former presidential aide in a post on Twitter wrote, “Miyetti Allah hold press conferences to threaten violence on Nigerians and make provocative statements to the effect that Southern Nigeria belongs to them.
“Soldiers and DSS don’t arrest them. Chiwetalu Agu wore a Biafran flag and was arrested. Where is justice?
“Sheikh Gumi campaigns for terrorists and sings their praises. Even telling them on camera that Christian soldiers are the ones killing them, thus they should not kill Muslims.
“He is free while Chiwetalu Agu was arrested? Nigeria can’t have peace without justice!”
No Plans To Restore Back Disbanded SARS – IGP Debunks Trending Report
The Inspector-General of Polic, Usman Alkali Baba has debunked rumours that he has restored the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Police Force.
The IGP added that there is no plan to bring back SARS under any form or guise as the unit has been disbanded for good.
IGP Baba made the clarification in a statement on Thursday signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba and made available to Naija News.
The clarification follows some earlier reports that the IGP had brought back the notorious SARS unit and released new terms and conditions on the operation of SARS officials.
But Mba in the statement said another special unit has already taken over the responsibilities of SARS and with the reforms going on in the force, it will be wrong to go back to a unit that has been disbanded for allegations of brutality, extrajudicial killings, and human rights abuses.
He urged members of the public to ignore and disregard the rumours that SARS has been restored.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a false news report making the rounds online and offline suggesting that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has ordered the re-establishment of the defunct Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS).
“The Force wishes to categorically emphasize that there is no plan whatsoever to bring back the disbanded SARS. SARS is gone for good and will not resurrect under any guise whatsoever.
“The IGP notes that the Force has since reorganized its operational structure to fill the vacuum created by the disbandment of SARS. Currently, the leadership of the Force is focused on efforts at deepening reforms within the Police and bequeathing Nigerians a Police Force that will be more effective, efficient, technology-driven, humane and Rule of Law-compliant.
“The IGP, therefore, calls on members of the public to disregard the report which is absolutely false and deliberately intended to disinform and misinform members of the public.”
INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates For Anambra Guber
Ahead of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of qualified candidates.
The electoral body also released the final register of voters for the election at the headquarters of the commission in Awka, the capital on Thursday.
In a statement by its spokesman, Festus Okoye, the commission has uploaded the list of the candidates to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
Okoye noted that the list has also been presented to the 18 Registered Political Parties participating in the election for verification.
He revealed the commission leadership will on Friday, 8th October 2021 hold an emergency consultative meeting with the leadership of all the registered political parties in Nigeria at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The Commission assures the people of Anambra State of its commitment to conduct a free and fair election, adding that their right to vote in a safe and secure environment will be guaranteed.
A group loyal to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) Thursday officially launched in Lagos State.
Tinubu, a leader in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.
Tinubu is rumoured to be interested in succeeding incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 after the expiration of his second term in office.
However, despite a campaign by these loyalists, Tinubu is yet to make any public pronouncement about his ambition.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s public launch of SWAGA in Lagos was attended by the state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and hundreds of Tinubu loyalists across the country.
“With serious determination to succeed, Lagos shall stand still for Swaga 23,” said the leader of the group Dayo Adeyeye.
In the last few months, the APC leader has been in London where he is recuperating after undergoing surgery.
SWAGA’23 has already been launched in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, and Ekiti.
“It is indeed a payback time for our national leader, who through his years of service contributed to the lives of many others and today you can see his footprints across the country.
“We shall continue to appeal to him to contest for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because governance is not what to be experimented with.
“Therefore, we need a viable, experienced and a man who understands the diverse nature of the Nigerian economy,” SWAGA said in a statement.
500 Nigerians lose jobs as UAE declines renewal of work visas
Over 500 Nigerians have lost their jobs and are stranded four months after the United Arab Emirates stopped granting or renewing Direct Employment Visa for Nigerians in the Asian country.
Over 500 Nigerians have lost their jobs and are stranded four months after the United Arab Emirates stopped granting or renewing Direct Employment Visa for Nigerians in the Western Asian country.It was gathered that while many of the affected persons had returned to Nigeria, hundreds of them are still in UAE in the hope that Abu Dhabi would reverse the decision.
The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, had said there was no official communication on the issuance of work permits for Nigerians living and working in his country.Taffaq, who stated this when he received the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Embassy in Abuja, in August, noted that he read about the ban in the social media, stressing that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.”
But giving an update on the situation in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, a UAE resident, Mr Chukwudi Kalu, said he has presented the list of over 500 Nigerians who lost their jobs due to their inability to renew their work visas to the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. headtopics.com
Kalu explained that the Federal Government through the embassy and the NIDCOM had held talks with the Emirati government.He stated, “It is a diplomatic issue between the two countries and there are still ongoing discussions between Nigeria and UAE. It has been very difficult for Nigerians out here. Over 500 Nigerians are affected.”
He added, “Most of those who lost their jobs have gone back home (Nigeria) while some are still here trying to see when this issue would be discussed. Nigerians are losing their jobs in high numbers, that’s the fact. Read more: The Punch Newspapers »
BREAKING: EFCC Arrests Former Senate President Ekweremadu Over Alleged Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arrested former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for alleged fraud and failing to explain how he came to own 22 properties in Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
According to SaharaReporters, EFCC sources said Ekweremadu was interrogated for several hours in Abuja and allowed to go home later. He is expected to return to the commission for further questioning at a later date.
“Ekweremadu returned to the EFCC to offer explanations on how he acquired many choice properties in Nigeria, United States of America and United Arab Emirates.
“He was with us two weeks ago and also on Monday,” a source said.
This comes three years after Ekweremadu fell ill during interrogation by operatives of the anti-graft commission.
The politician in 2018 took ill after some hours of questioning at the EFCC office in Abuja and was released to seek medical attention.
He was reported to have exhibited symptoms of high blood pressure.
The Nigerian government had in March 2018 sought an interim order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to temporarily seize 22 prime properties/assets of Ekweremadu located in London, Dubai, Florida, and Abuja, that were not declared before the CCB.
The motion ex-parte filed by Festus Keyamo (SAN) on behalf of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property was brought before the court pursuant to Section 330 of The Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Section 8 Of The Recovery Of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act and Section 44 (2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution.
In an affidavit deposed to in support of the motion ex parte by Yohanna Shankuk, a litigation clerk in Festus Keyamo Chambers, he stated that from 1999 till date, Ekweremadu had been a public officer and had not earned anything outside his salaries and allowances as a public officer
He, therefore, wondered where the lawmaker got the money to acquire such properties.
The undeclared assets were identified as: 11 Evans Enwerem Street, Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja; Plot 2633 Kyami, Abuja; Housing Estate; Plot 1106 CRD, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Lugbe, Abuja; Plot 2782, Asokoro Extension, Abuja; houses at Citi Park Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja and Plot 1474, Cadastral Zone BD6, Mabushi, Abuja.
Other properties allegedly undeclared by the senator include Congress Court, Abuja; Flat 1, Block D25, Athletics Street, (24th Street), Games Village, Abuja; and Plot 66, 64 Crescent, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.
Drama As Hungry Photographer Deletes All Photos After He Was Denied Food At Wedding
A wedding photographer has allegedly deleted a couple’s wedding photos after they reportedly refused to let him eat at the wedding.
According to the hungry photographer, who took to Reddit to explain that he was a friend of the groom and they had approached to take pics at their wedding so that they could save on costs. “it’s ‘my thing’ if that makes sense,” he said.
The anonymous photographer further explained that he was following the bride around all day with no time to eat or drink, and when it came time for the wedding party to sit down, there was no spot for him, no bar, and he was not allowed to leave to get food.
Speaking about the incident, a beautician who was a guest at the wedding gave more insight as she narrates what really transpired between the couple and the photographer.
She said; “the photographer was a friend of the groom doing a favour for 250 dollars and after 10 hours working, the groom told him that if he wanted to stop taking photos to eat/drink he wouldn’t pay him. So he deleted the pictures and dipped.”
Lagos govt shuts roads ahead of World Cup qualifier
The Lagos State Government has directed the closure of some roads around the National Stadium in Surulere ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and the Central African Republic, billed to kick off by 5pm on Thursday.
The latest development was disclosed by Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the state’s commissioner for transportation.
Oladeinde stated that vehicles will not be able to access Surulere from the Teslim axis from 12noon.
This includes the service lane inbound the National Stadium from Alaka and Teslim Balogun Stadium from Ojuelegba.
Motorists heading towards Costain, Lagos Island from Masha/kilo and Surulere are advised to use Adeniran Ogunsanya or Bode Thomas to link Iponri or Eric Moore. Alternately, they can use Adelabu to connect Babs Animashaun/Eric Moore axis to link Brewery and access Costain or Eko Bridge.
Those heading towards Ikorodu Road from Surulere have been advised to make use of Akerele to link Ogunlana Drive inwards Itire road and connect Ojuelegba to their destinations.
The commissioner assured Lagosians that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, in collaboration with other security agencies will be available to enforce the latest directive.
BREAKING: Court sentences Abdulrasheed Maina’s Son Faisal to 14 years in Prison
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday sentenced the son of former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, Faisal, to 14 years imprisonment.
Presiding Justice, Okon Abang, found Faisal guilty on three counts of money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC successfully established that Faisal, operated a fictitious bank account with the United Bank for Africa, UBA, through which his father, Maina, laundered the sum of N58.1million.
Court documents reveal that the money which was kept in the account and operated under the name ‘Alhaji Faisal Farm 2’ was sequentially withdrawn by the Defendant and his father, between October 2013 and June 2019.
Abang expressed satisfaction with the EFCC’s case against the accused adding that Faisal should have known that inflows into the bank account formed proceeds of an unlawful act of corruption by his father.
While the court sentenced the Defendant to 5 years in count 1 and 3 of the charge, he was sentenced to 14 years on count 2 of the charge.
The court held that the charge would run concurrently, starting from Thursday.
