The impeached Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu has been reinstated to his position.
His reinstatement comes less than a week after he was impeached under tight security after a resolution for his removal was signed by 18 out of the 27 lawmakers.
Earlier today, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Paul Emeziem has been impeached on charges including disorderly conduct, abuse of office and tyranny.
He was replaced by Hon Kennedy Ibe who represents Obowo State Constituency, while Hon. Iwuanyanwu resumed his initial position as the Deputy Speaker.
The move in the Assembly comes after the House of Assembly recalled six suspended members who were controversially suspended on July 8 for “unparliamentary conduct”.
It was learned that the lawmakers were recalled by the Impeached Speaker after they reached an agreement with the House of Assembly leadership.
The lawmakers included Kennedy Ibe (Obowo); Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma); Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru); Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise); Philip Ejiogu, (Owerri North), and Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West).
Lawmakers in the Imo State House of Assembly have impeached the Speaker, Paul Emeziem.
He was impeached on Monday during a plenary session at the State House of Assembly in Owerri the Imo state capital by 19 lawmakers
The 19 lawmakers out of the total 27 lawmakers signed a letter which was read on the floor of the house.
According to the lawmakers, the Speaker was impeached on allegations of gross misconduct, forgery, abuse of office, and high-handedness.
Meanwhile, the member representing Obowo State constituency Kennedy Ibe has emerged as the new Speaker of the House.
At least three persons have been reported dead and many others injured during a massive explosion at the Kubwa village market in Abuja.
The explosion, which happened around 7:00 pm on Friday evening, was caused by adulterated kerosene from a tanker near the main market.
It was learned that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during the explosion which consumed two shops and other roadside stores.
According to the acting Director, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, Florence Wenegieme, three persons have been confirmed dead and scores injured in the explosion.
She stated the injured victims have been taken to the Kubwa General Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Wenegieme, however, lamented that hoodlums had taken over the scene and obstructed the firefighters from doing their work.
She said, “The incident happened not quite long. I can’t tell you the cause but I can tell you that three persons have died but we are yet to take out the corpses because hoodlums have taken over the place, they also did not allow our men to do their jobs. They have parked somewhere waiting for the police to come.”
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives had blocked the access points to the explosion site and also dispersed people who had gathered at the scene.
A top staff of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Engr. Musa, who was declared missing by his family has been reportedly found dead at a Lagos canal.
The family of Engr Musa had declared him missing last week Sunday when he could not be found after he was last seen on Saturday.
A human corpse was recovered from the Iyana Ipaja canal that runs down from the Oko Oba abattoir, but the family of the MMA staff is yet to identify the corpse.
A source who was at the scene of the incident and spoke with Vanguard claimed that the remains were that of the missing Musa’s corpse.
The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that, “The family has been looking for him since Sunday but discovered his remains yesterday at the Lagos Canal in Iyana Ipaja.
“Musa was a strict man and he did not believe in eye service.”
It was also disclosed that a nail was found on the head of the deceased, while both hands were tied behind him, which could be a case of assassination.
In another development, six people who were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday morning from the University of Abuja Senior Staff Quarters have been rescued and reunited with their families.
In a short statement signed by the FCT Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, on Friday, the victims were rescued through a joint operation with other security agencies.
Adeh also disclosed that the suspected kidnappers have been arrested and would be charged to court soon.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared three days of mourning for victims of the Ikoyi building collapse.
Naija News reports that the governor made the declaration in a statement on Thursday signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.
The governor also directed that official engagements are cancelled during the mourning period and all flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings.
Sanwo-Olu, however, commiserated with Lagosians who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident, praying for speedy recovery for the survivors.
The statement reads. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse, which occurred on Monday. No fewer than 32 persons are believed to have died in the incident.
“All flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings and official engagements cancelled during the mourning period.
“The Lagos State Government, once again, commiserates with all those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.”
The governor disclosed that family members had submitted 19 names of those still missing, asking other family members to visit the scene and drop the needed information.
Sanwo-Olu added that the ongoing corona inquest on the bodies evacuated from the site was expected to be concluded today (Friday), after which families would be invited to identify them.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), we opened a register for people that have missing persons or loved ones whom they believed must have been at the site before the collapse.
“As I speak here, it is only 19 names of missing persons that have been registered. Some of them have pictures, others do not. This list would help us to get information on manifest of those at the site.
“As of this afternoon, we have recovered a total of 32 bodies. We are conducting a corona inquest on the bodies and by tomorrow (Friday), we hope the exercise would have been concluded. That is the deadline we gave to the corona, so that the families can come and identify the bodies recovered so far.”
Three inmates awaiting trial at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, Lagos, were, yesterday, allegedly shot dead while trying to escape from a vehicle returning them to custody.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, said they were brought to the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, and on their way back to Kirikiri, their vehicle was trapped in a traffic jam.
“They came down to escape and the arms squad opened fire on them and three of them were killed. The rest were brought to Ikoyi Prison being the closest facility because of the traffic,” the source said.
In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Superintendent Rotimi Oladokun, said there was an incident, but no inmate was killed. “An assailant tried to interfere with the vehicle conveying the inmates and was shot by the security agents, but no inmate was affected. The inmates are still in custody. However, the incident is still undergoing investigation and our findings will be made public, definitely.”
A 26-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Zainab Sanni Oyindamola has been confirmed dead in the 21-storey building that collapsed in Ikoyi area of Lagos.
The lifeless body of Zainab, who was serving with the construction company, Fourscore Homes Limited, was pulled out from the rubbles on Wednesday, November 3, dashing the hope of her family members who have been at the scene waiting for good news.
It was gathered that the deceased’s mother got her redeployed from Borno State due to insecurity.
Mother of late Zainab being consoled by officials of the Red Cross
According to Daily Trust, the deceased was among the six Corps members deployed to the company. But while others escaped by whisker on the fateful day, Oyindamola got trapped in the rubbles.
A source at the NYSC confirmed to Daily Trust that as of now, Oyindamola was the only corps member who died in the incident.
“Oyin as she was fondly called was a 2021 batch B corps member who was originally deployed to Maiduguri but got a redeployment to Lagos after the three-week orientation,” the source said.
A family member, who spoke with journalists at the scene of the incident, said Oyindamola resumed work at the company about three weeks ago.
“She has been coming here since then. We don’t even know why they sent her here. She was originally posted to Borno but her mother redeployed her. If we had known, we would have allowed her to continue her youth service in that state, the family source said.
“We asked her not to go to Borno because of the insurgency but she went there for the three-week orientation and came back alive only to come and die. She was a very humble and respectful girl, she would greet everybody when she arrived from work every day. She is the first daughter of her mother and they are just two.”
Meanwhile, friends and colleagues have taken to Facebook to mourn the deceased. One Agboola Yusuf Olatunji posted her photos yesterday night.
“She was among the victims of the 21-storey building collapse at Ikoyi but we lost her. May Her Gentle Soul Rest in Perfect Peace. Sanni Zainab Oyindamola Ayinke. We love you but Almighty Allah loves you more.” he wrote.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya has lamented that insufficient funding may hamper their plans in combating terrorists and other criminals in Nigeria.
Yahaya stated that the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning has set a ceiling for budget figures but that will make their budgetary allocation for 2022 grossly inadequate in fighting terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and other criminalities.
The COAS made the submission on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Army to defend the 2022 budget.
He appealed to the Senate to prevail on the Ministry to exclude the Nigerian Army from the budget ceiling so adequate funding can be available to them for the fight against insurgency in the country.
According to him, the Army proposed the sum of N710bn for its 2022 budget but the ceiling put in place by the Ministry forced the figures down to N579bn already which is too small to prosecute their activities.
He said, “In preparing for year 2022 budget, the Nigerian Army proposed about the sum of N710bn.
“However, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning budget ceiling reduced it to N579bn.
“This reduction would impede the capacity and tempo of the Nigerian Army in carrying out its constitutional duties particularly the ongoing war against Boko Haram terrorists and other criminalities across the country.
“The National Assembly should prevail on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to exempt the Nigerian Army from the current budget ceiling or envelope allocation system.
“I therefore passionately appeal to this (Senate) committee to impress it on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to begin the release of year 2022 Nigerian Army capital budget from the First Quarter 2022.
“This would help the Nigerian Army to rehabilitate dilapidated accommodations in over 138 barracks and training facilities across our units, and formations as well as procure the needed equipment and platforms to prosecute the war against terrorism and other criminalities across the country.”
He also told the lawmakers that a quick and timely release of budgetary allocations will not only boost the morale of operatives but also ensure the army is able to discharge its constitutional role of protecting the country and its citizens.
“The timely and complete implementation of the 2022 budget will thus enhance the fulfillment of the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate and thus engender peace for socioeconomic development of our country Nigeria,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said bail conditions must be met before billionaire entrepreneur Obinna Iyiegbu aka Obi Cubana, will be released.
Obi Cubana, who honoured an invite to the office of the EFCC to answer questions bordering on alleged offences of money laundering and tax fraud, is still in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
An EFCC official confirmed to Vanguard, that the businessman was still being grilled.
According to the official, the businessman was expected to satisfy the bail conditions laid out by the EFCC.
“There are many things for which the businessman is being interrogated and until he meets the conditions for his bail, the interrogation would continue,” the official said without specifically naming what the socialite is being grilled for.
But among the likely charges are an abuse of the Naira, tax fraud and money laundering based on what the source called ‘verified business transactions’.
On Monday, 1st November, reports of the arrest of billionaire businessman, Obi cubana on social media and news platforms sparked serious conversations amongst Nigerians.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Command has secured the conviction of a former manager with Sterling Bank and Account Relationship Officer of OHHA Microfinance Bank. Mr Oliver Anidiobi before Justice C.O Ajah of the Enugu State High Court, Enugu on a 32-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N219million.
The defendant who was arraigned on Tuesday May, 7, 2019 allegedly used his position to convince the microfinance bank to deposit the said sum through him. He proceeded to fix the money in a fixed deposit account and forged a deposit certificate to deceive the microfinance bank, while he diverted the funds for personal use.
With the money, he built a block of 5 flats, acquired several plots of land along the Enugu Port-Harcourt Expressway, an uncompleted four bedroom bungalow at Centenary Estate, Enugu and also made an investment of N65 million in a Ponzi Scheme called “Let’s Partner with You” owned by one Mr. Patrick Nwokike.
In the course of his trial, the prosecution counsel Michael Ani, presented 5 witnesses and tendered 75 exhibits while the defendant testified for himself.
At the last hearing on October 8, 2021, Justice Ajah adjourned to November 2, 2021 for judgment.
The Judge today held that “the accused person did not deny nor challenge the allegations made by the EFCC. Any evidence not challenged is admitted as true. I am duty bound to establish the evidence presented by the prosecution. The evidence is strong and compelling to grant conviction.”
Justice Ajah consequently convicted and sentenced Oliver Anidiobi to 4 years imprisonment on counts 1-14 without an option of fine; 4 years on counts 15-17 and 8 years on counts 28-32 without an option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
An estate valuer is to evaluate the defendant’s properties at his village, Centenary city, Enugu and Premier Layout, New Artisan, Enugu; to help determine their values so that they can be sold and the proceeds paid in restitution to OHHA microfinance bank.
