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‘What A Shameful Thing To Celebrate’ — Abia Citizens Not Excited About Flyover That Took Gov Ikpeazu 5 Years To Build

Not many people are impressed by what some consider a feat by Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration: the completion of the Osisioma flyover bridge which commenced six years ago (2017).

The bridge, now named ‘Okezuo Abia Flyover’, was commissioned by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday. Governor Wike also commissioned the Aba-Owerri road during his visit.

The Osisioma flyover is said to be the first-ever flyover to be built in Abia since the state was created 31 years ago.

Governor Ikpeazu described it as “a premier flyover” and that he feels “a personal sense of fulfillment” about delivering the bridge to citizens of the state.

I have a personal sense of fulfillment on the occasion of the official commissioning of our premier flyover because it has solved a major grid lock challenge on that axis of our commercial city. It also has capacity to further enable trade & commerce!

1/ pic.twitter.com/TwSfE2CW0b

— Okezie Ikpeazu (@GovernorIkpeazu) September 5, 2022
Wike, after the commissioning, said in a Facebook post: “I thank my brother and friend H.E Victor Okezie Ikpeazu for affording me the honour of commissioning the first Flyover ever built in Abia State. I also salute his commitment and courage to build solutions to the traffic problems of his state and embark on this project despite the limited resources available to his state.”

Wike-in-Abia
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, visits Abia to commission the Osisioma flyover bridge.
Two prominent Abia politicians — Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Samuel Ohuabunwa — were also excited about the completion of the flyover bridge.

Kalu, who is the Chief Whip of Senate, said: “I congratulate Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on the commissioning of the Osisioma Flyover by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
“The governor has done well on this and we must commend him. However, like Oliver Twist, we urge him to do more and also extend it to other senatorial districts,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Ohuabunwa also remarked in a Facebook post: “May Good things happen to Abia. Congratulations Ndi Abia. Congratulations OVI.”

However, some Abia natives believe there’s nothing worthy of celebration about the flyover bridge, especially when compared to what other South Eastern states have achieved.

“What a shameful thing to celebrate. Disgusting. Even coming (from) an elder of the state like you,” one Akanu Ujah Agwu, a native of Abiriba in Abia, berated Ohuabunwa for commending Governor Ikpeazu over the flyover.

A Twitter user, Valiant Samson Idowu-Alaba (@ValiantNig), said “Ikpeazu completes Abia’s first ever flyover, popularly called ‘Center Table’ by Abians after seven years; meanwhile Umahi has 23 already within the same timeframe!”Below are some of the reactions on Twitter:

Ikpeazu completes Abia’s first ever flyover, popularly called ‘Center Table’ by Abians after seven years; meanwhile Umahi has 23 already within same timeframe! pic.twitter.com/Lz8OAV9Dnz

— Valiant Samson Idowu-Alaba (@ValiantNig) September 4, 2022
First flyover in Abia state after 23 years 🙆🏽‍♂️🤣. This politicians needs to be dealt with. They’ve loot and embezzles money’s for development and infrastructures that will bring employment for the youths. pic.twitter.com/FzzcD5mjgY

— news today (@Akwuru2) September 5, 2022
ABIA STATE people celebrating one flyover from their Governor okezie ikpeazu in 7 years as a governor shows how behind they are in infrastructure

😂
something we already got used to here in Rivers state.
We had 10 flyovers in a year pic.twitter.com/21u8Cp7vQH

— Lastdaughter 🌹💖 (@mhis_blessing) September 5, 2022
Finally, Wike’s PA completed the flyover in Aba, Abia state. Something else to add to his hat of achievements after two terms apart from bringing Domino’s pizza and chicken republic. https://t.co/q17hgXSxvJ

— Chigozie Bright (@obianuju_bright) September 5, 2022
After 7 years, ABIA STATE don finally finish one flyover…
Lets clap for them 😪💔

— Lastdaughter 🌹💖 (@mhis_blessing) September 5, 2022
The first flyover in Abia State, after 23 years of democracy, was today commissioned by Gov. Wike. pic.twitter.com/KIAHvrNPey

— Martin Okorowu 🇳🇬 (@mr_okokobioko) September 5, 2022
One flyover in the entire state was constructed for 7 years and you’re making all this noise. Abia state dey see nonsense for your hand. 🤦🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/1hPun1C1WB

UK Prime Minister: How Primate Ayodele Foretold Rishi Sunak’s Loss To Liz Truss

After a drawn-out contest, the country’s ruling Conservative Party on Monday picked Liz Truss to be its new leader and the U.K.’s new prime minister.

Truss, until now the U.K.’s foreign minister, beat rival Rishi Sunak, the country’s former finance minister, to win the leadership race.

Following this development, it is important to note that the prophecy of famous Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele obviously played out especially with the loss of Rishi Sunak who started out as a prospective replacement for Boris Johnson.

Primate Ayodele had stated that God wants Rishi Sunak to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom because he will make efforts to stabilize the UK economy. The man of God also stated that He has been ordained to take over the baton from Boris Johnson but warned him against some moves that will jeopardize his chances.

Primate Ayodele warned him to immediately re-arrange himself otherwise, he will lose out in the election.

These were his words

’’Rishi Sunak should buckle up because he will lose support if he doesn’t manage his words well. He should re-arrange himself technically, politically and economically so that he won’t face disappointment. His ambition of becoming the next PM of the UK is threatened by the gang up of “insider group” in the Conservative Party. Much more than his public popularity, he needs to strategise to attract support from “the powers that be” for his emergence to be sealed.’’

‘’His opponent, Liz Truss, is about to take the lead if he doesn’t listen to God’s instruction. God wants him to be the next prime minister of the United Kingdom but he has a role to play.’’ (https://independent.ng/primate-ayodele-warns-rishi-sunak-on-his-ambition-to-become-next-uk-prime-minister/)

As the man of God warned, there seemed to be a gang-up against the victory of Rishi Sunak and this, according to sources, was due to the fact that Sunak started the actions that led to the call for Boris Johnson’s resignation.

Primate Ayodele also asked him to manage his words before the election. Sunak had vowed to cut taxes if he emerged as the new prime minister; meanwhile, he raised taxes to the highest level when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022. His words were not trusted by the electorates and this contributed to his loss because he was not able to re-address as Primate Ayodele advised him.

Rishi Sunak was destined to be the UK Prime minister but as Primate Ayodele revealed, he has roles to play before that can happen. The question is did he play those roles? No, and this led to his loss to Lizz Truss, fulfilling Primate Ayodele’s prophecy.

It would be recalled that Primate Ayodele foretold the emergence of Boris Johnson as the PM of the United Kingdom and also foretold his resignation in his 2022 prophecies which was released on Wednesday, 22nd Of December, 2021.

Lagos: Tinubu Denies Ownership Of Oriental Hotel, Other Assets

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has distanced himself from some properties linked to him in Lagos State.
The former Governor of Lagos State denied ownership of some properties in the state which include the Oriental Hotel and Civic Center.

Tinubu revealed this in a documentary where he spoke about his achievements as the governor of Lagos State.

The presidential candidate in an excerpt of the documentary posted by the media aide to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gaw on his Twitter account said the entire Lekki environs was a refuse dump that took months to clear.

Oriental Hotel was linked to Tinubu in 2020 after hoodlums destroyed the facility on the ground that the property belongs to the presidential candidate.

Hoodlums had targeted some properties of Tinubu after the Lekki tollgate shooting, during the ENDSARS protest.

The media house linked to Tinubu, the Nation newspaper, Television Continental (TVC) and Max Radio were destroyed.

The attack on Oriental Hotel prompted the owners of the facility, to release a statement which distanced Tinubu from the property.

The executive director of Western Metal Product Company (WEMCO), Taiwo Ali, revealed that the company owns 99 per cent of the shares of the hotel.

Speaking in the documentary, Tinubu said he brought private investors to Lagos State, adding that where the Civil Center and Oriental Hotel are used to be refused dump.

Tinubu disclosed that it took months and investments by the investors to transform the area.

He further stated, “the majority of those assets they claim are mine are not mine.

“I created an economic and recovery path for Lagos. No state can brag of the exponential development that is going on in the Lekki Corridor.”

Fresh Trouble For Abba Kyari As FG Uncovers New Shopping Malls, Lands, Bank Accounts Others Owned By Him

The Federal Government has uncovered 14 assets, including shopping malls, a residential estate, a polo playground, lands and farmland belonging to a former commander, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Kyari was said to have failed to disclose his ownership of the properties in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno State.

Over N207m and Є17,598 were also discovered in his various accounts in GTB, UBA and Sterling Bank.

In the fresh 24-count charges filed against Kyari by the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, J. Sunday, dated August 30, 2022, the Attorney-General of the Federation stated that the suspended DCP allegedly disguised his ownership of some of the properties.

The case filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/22 had as co-defendants, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, who are believed to be the beleaguered policeman’s siblings.

Also, the Federal Government filed separate 24-count charges against Kyari’s former deputy, Sunday Ubua, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who is under suspension.

An affidavit in support of the charge deposed to by a litigation officer with the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Stephen Kashawa, explained that Kyari, who is facing trial for dealing in cocaine, was subjected to general and financial investigation when he was transferred by the police to the NDLEA headquarters on February 14, 2022 for investigation.

He added that the financial investigation which extended to his properties led to the filing of charges for non-disclosure and conversion of large sums of money.

The deponent further said the case was ready for trial and that all the witnesses were available to proceed to trial.

Abuja land

The Federal Government said Kyari knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his asset at plot no 1927 Blue Fountain Estate, Karsana, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor also alleged that the embattled DCP did not declare his ownership of an estate at Linda Chaulker Road, Asokoro Extension; plot no. 5 titled BO/4546; plot no. 9 titled BO/1037; plot no. 10 titled CER/4319 and plot no 33 titled BO/4319, Maiduguri, Borno State.

Furthermore, the AGF said the suspended DCP, who is facing prosecution for illegal cocaine dealing alongside six others, failed to reveal his ownership of a shopping mall titled, NE/1229 and a polo playground with plot no. 270, both located in Maiduguri.

The charges also said the former IRT commander did not make full disclosure of his ownership of farmland along Abuja-Kaduna road and a plaza under construction in Guzape, Abuja.

Count 11 read, ‘’That you, DCP Abba Kyari, male, adult and you Mohammed Kyari, male, adult, on or about February 14, 2022, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court in order to disguise the true ownership of the property situate at plot no. 33, Bama Road, GRA Extension, Maiduguri, Borno State, covered by certificate no. BO/4319 issued by Borno State Government by deposing to a false affidavit at the Federal High Court in suit no. FHC/NG/Cs/9/2022 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as amended).’’

Maiduguri land

In an attempt to disguise the ownership of a plot of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy no: 000271 issued by Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Kyari was alleged to have also deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Maiduguri in suit number, FHC/NG/CS/9/2022, contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The AGF equally accused Kyari of deposing to an affidavit to hide his ownership of plot no 9, BOTP/63 covered by the grant of right of occupancy no. BO/1087; a shopping mall at number 4, Aliyu Close along Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, covered by Certificate of Occupancy no. NE/1229.

The charges revealed that the DCP knowingly converted N28.4 million in his GTB account number 0121075250; N65.2m in his GTB account number 0138360064; N95 million in UBA account number 1002250112 and N16.9 million in Sterling Bank account number 0072451994.

The first defendant was similarly accused of failing to declare in the NDLEA assets declaration form the sum of Є17,598 in two GTB accounts, being proceeds of unlawful activities; N2.9 million in UBA; N366, 258.77 and N88.000 in Sterling Bank.

In the charges against Ubua with number FHC/ABJ/407/22, the government revealed that he did not disclose a N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited, including several millions stashed in different bank accounts.

The defendant was said to have converted N118.6 million using First bank account 3018154763 and $30,516.36 using Polaris Bank account 2630046721.

The ACP was accused of converting between January and March, 2022, the sum of N40.8 million in his Polaris Bank account number 1060047951, being proceeds of unlawful activities.

The government said Ubua acquired a block of lock-up shops at Utako bus terminal, Abuja for N16.8 million and also converted N33 million and N227.5 million using First bank account number 2005502596. The defendant was further accused of converting N40.8 million and another N33.7 million.

Kyari’s deputy

Count one read, “That You, Sunday Ubua, male, adult, on or about the 14th day of February, 2022, at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency headquarters, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gombiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets in the NDLEA assets declaration firm by not disclosing your N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.’’

The NDLEA had earlier marked six residential houses and one plaza in Maiduguri belonging to the embattled former IRT commander.

The two-storey shopping plaza, Assurance Plaza, located along the Giwa Barracks Road in Maiduguri, has about 100 stores.

Six other residential houses within the Maiduguri New Government Residential Area allegedly belonging to Kyari were also marked by the NDLEA, 48 hours after a suspected drug dealer linked to the N3 billion worth of tramadol intercepted by the then Kyari-led IRT team was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA in Lagos.

The Punch

Optima Care Centre MD Femi Olaleye in Wife’s Little Niece Sexual Harassment Mess

A popular Nigerian medical practitioner and cancer care advocate, Femi Olaleye, has been accused of sexually violating a minor. He is the Managing Director of Optimal Care Centre, Surulere, Lagos, was accused of harassing a niece of his wife, Remi Olaleye, for one year and nine months.

The caregiver was also accused of threatening to deal with his wife, who reportedly informed the police of the incident and is now pressing charges.

The Lagos State police command said it is aware of the case and that the file is currently with its legal unit for legal advice.

Popular Nigerian actresses, Kate Henshaw and Damilola Adekoya, who is known for her stage name, Princess, recently released videos about the matter.

Ms Henshaw in her video said the accused once confirmed the allegation to her during one of the cancer care outreaches held recently by the doctor’s organisation.

The actresses have, therefore, called on the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, (DSVRT) and various non-government organisations, (NGO) involved in cases of rape and sexual abuse to do more in protecting children from sexual abuse and sexual violators.

Mr Olaleye could not be reached for his stance as he did not pick calls or reply messages sent to him.

Henshaw’s account
Ms Henshaw, who said her post was necessary based on her relationship with the accused, said she was surprised that Mr Olaleye who had earlier confessed to her of “falling into a trap allegedly set for him by his wife,” later denied a few weeks after via short text messages they both exchanged.
She said; “I have known Dr Femi for many years. He had approached me to help in his advocacy for breast cancer screening. For years I have supported his vision and even put in money towards helping women get screening.

“On the 9th of July we met again at another advocacy event where he partnered with Reddington Hospital on Victoria Island, Lagos.”

Ms Henshaw said, at the event, she asked after his wife and Mr Olalaye said they were now separated and “that she kicked him out of the house.”

“He went on to say, ‘I will admit to you Kate that she set me up and I fell for it.’ When I asked what happened he said she brought a young girl to the house and he did stuff with her. He blamed his wife for knowing his weakness and still went ahead to bring the girl to the house.

“He even said she arrested him at that time and told me when I probed further that he had sexual affairs with the girl but didn’t mention that she is a minor or that she is his wife’s niece. He just told me other things and I said alright take it easy and resolve it with your wife,” she said.

Ms Henshaw said the doctor’s wife later reached out to her after a while and told her what really transpired.

She said Mrs Olaleye sent her videos confirming that Mr Olaleye had been sleeping with the minor for a long time but claimed she could not post the video due to the minor involved.

“I sent him a message to express my disappointment and told him to go to submit himself to the authorities but his response was that he totally understands and added that he cannot remember admitting to me that he had sexual relations with anyone,” Ms Henshaw added.

Alleged threat
Meanwhile, in another viral video on social media, Princess said she has also known the doctor for a long time and has joined in his advocacy against breast cancer and has learnt a lot from him.
Femi Olaleye
She said she also just found out that he has been abusing his wife’s niece and was threatening her as well.

Princess said; “He would threaten her with all these fetish stuff that the day she talks she would die, then he started giving her some pills to prevent pregnancies.

“The worst of it is that the case was reported and the next day, he was supposed to be charged to court but because he made an undertaking that it will not happen again he was detained and released.”

Princess said the doctor started going to his wife’s house to threaten her and sent people after “her to kill her.”

Doctor’s mother too
In another audio that Princess played online, a voice allegedly belonging to Mr Olaleye’s mother, was heard threatening another person in the conversation that her son should be spared because “doing such is not a new thing.”

The other party in the conversation was said to be Ms Olaleye.

The voice said; “Is it a big deal to molest a minor? Why do you want to take the case too seriously? Is my son the first person to rape a minor? Why do you want to take the life of my son?
“My son came home and told me what he did and that you are not supporting him but instead want to kill him. In the name of Jesus nothing will happen to my son. It is you that will die and it is you that will be cursed.”

Princess claimed that Mr Olaleye was in London before but was accused by patients of sexual molestation and was sacked. The development, she alleged, led to the crash of the doctor’s first marriage.

Accused unreachable
Apart from switching off his personal line, all telephone lines on the website of Mr Olaleye’s known organisations including the hospital have been switched off.

Meanwhile, the doctor has also reportedly changed his status profile on some social media platforms to “private” to avoid the public reaching out to him via messages.

Police confirm case
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, a superintendent of police, he confirmed knowledge of the matter.

He said: “The case file has been sent to the Legal unit for legal advice. Awaiting response.”

Culled from Premium Times

Datti-Ahmed Defends $150m Diaspora Donations To Peter Obi’s Campaign, Says LP Candidate Seen As ‘Messiah’

Against appeals by a pro-Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu group to the Independent National Electoral Commission to disqualify Mr Peter Obi from contesting the 2023 presidential election over the $150m Diaspora donations he received, Obi’s running mate, Sunday, gave reasons for the gesture.

Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party while Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed is his running mate.

Dr Ahmed said the donors had confidence in Obi, and challenged other presidential candidates to travel overseas to get donations. He stated this in his verified Twitter handle.

According to him, “Tinubu group asking Inec to disqualify Obi over $150m diaspora funding. Now do you think anyone would wish to donate their hard earned money if they don’t see a messiah in Obi? Anyway let any of the presidential aspirants visit US. I want to see something.”

Recall that the Tinubu-Shettima Connect, rooting for the election of Senator Tinubu, presidential candidate of of the Progressive Congress in 2023, asked INEC to disqualify Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, for soliciting funds from Nigerians in the diaspora.

The group, in a statement by its convener, Adebanjo Moyosore, said such was against the Electoral Act 2022.

According to the statement, “It is a matter of great public concern as the country has moved from its old practice with INEC trying to put perfection to the electoral process.

“Unfortunately, a few individuals who think they can get away with delibrate act to undermine the electoral law of the land have already started making sinister moves even when the campaigns are yet to begin in earnest.

“Section 85 of the Electoral Act has clearly explained this. Also, Section 85 (a) (b) provides that any political party that:

“(a) holds or possesses any fund outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225 (3) (a) of the Constitution, commits an offence, and shall on conviction forfeit the funds or assets purchased with such funds to the Commission and in addition may be liable to a fine of at least N5,000,000.

“We therefore call on INEC to act and save our democracy from the hands of some desperate Nigerians.”

Stop The Rumour …Ahmed Halilu is the Right Man for The Job

A clear and meticulous choice for this sensitive position, Ahmed Halilu‘s appointment as Executive Director of The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting checks all boxes.

Considering the amount of experience he had acquired over the years, this indeed is a golden choice.

However, naysayers had taken to the hill and beyond to downplay his competence. Hoping that invented propaganda to smear his career in order to score points will overshadow everything he had done to merit this meritorious milestone.

It is unambiguous but daunting nonetheless to see the facade behind the trolls. When a son of the soil attains certain height, of course some spectators will have different views. But make no mistake, for many reasons, the former manager at Zenith Bank deserves his job at NSPM.

More than fastidious, to say the least, is to allege as well as pin a political undertone to this worthy milestone.

Mr. Halilu, a professional banker, has master’s degree in business administration from Ahmadu Bello University in 2001. He returned to the same institution in 2008 to earn another Master’s degree in international affairs and diplomacy.

He had earned several other professional and diploma certifications that proved his wealth of knowledge.

His managerial experience is not in question considering his 15 years of managerial and financial portfolio. His first working experience post-nysc in 1992 was at African International Bank at Kano State.

Ahmed Halilu would thereafter become a deputy manager in charge of Foreign Exchange department in 1998.

Furthermore, his earliest managerial position was his two-year stint at CBN Kaduna Branch as the manager in charge of Corporate Banking Loans and Advances Recovery.

A transformative and visionary leader like the fufore-born product of prestigious ABU is deserving of this job. Also, considering that he had garnered admirable and decade-long experience in the financial sector, he is a good fit.

In his long career as a financial expert, he had attended not less than 17 high-value courses. It is unfair to overlook all these achievements and focus on the fact that he is President Muhammadu Buhari’s in law, insinuating that that is the only yardstick for his appointment. Again, it is an unjust assumption which can only be purported by mischief makers.

Popular Nigerian Gospel Artist Reacts After Escaping Ghastly Motor Crash

Nigerian gospel music minister, Dunsin Oyekan, has spoken out after he and his crew came out of a car accident alive.

The crash was said to have happened along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway on Saturday.

He was on his way to Sword of the Spirit Ministries program organized in Ibadan by Bishop Francis Wale Oke.

Arriving on stage at the church, Oyekan said his escape was a miracle.

“If you saw the accident scene that I came out of, you can never believe that I walked out of that alive. The jeep must have gone under the trailer; so if you are looking for a miracle, this is a miracle standing here!”

Taking to his Facebook page on Saturday, Oyekan told his fans that he was perfectly okay.

Yemi Osinbajo Meets U.S. VP Kamala Harris

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday met with his counterpart from the United States, Kamala Harris, at the White House in Washington D.C.
Both leaders met to discuss on mutual interests of the two countries.

Speaking at the parley, Osinbajo said both countries must continue to work together at the bilateral and multilateral levels to address common global challenges, promote peace and security, tackle pandemics, climate change, and economic adversity.

“It was truly a pleasure to meet with Vice-President Kamala Harris to discuss Nigeria’s #EnergyTransition Plan and other interests between our governments,” Osinbajo

“In addition to a shared commitment to democracy, both countries must continue to work together at the bilateral and multilateral levels to address common global challenges, promote peace and security, tackle pandemics, climate change, and economic adversity. Thank you for receiving me at the @whitehouse.”

On her part, Kamala Harris stated that African leadership, and in particular, Nigeria’s leadership was key to confronting regional and global challenges.

“It was great to meet with Vice President Osinbajo of Nigeria today to discuss strengthening the relationship between the United States and Nigeria,” she added.

She commended Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plaan (ETP) under Osinbajo’s leadership, saying “I have no question that they-ETP goals-would be achieved,” Harris said.

Gospel Singer, Yinka Ayefele Allegedly Punched By NSCDC Officer

Popular Nigerian gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele has been allegedly assaulted by an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ekiti State.

Ayefele was said to have been punched on his lips by a yet-to-be-identified officer during an altercation between them.

Sources told journalists in Ado Ekiti, that the security agent also threatened to shoot the Ipoti Ekiti-born singer after resisting his forceful attempt to take money from Ayefele’s car.

One of the eyewitnesses said, “The incident occurred in Iloro Ekiti, where he (Ayefele) came to entertain guests at an event. The officer had made an attempt to take money from his car but when Ayefele resisted him, he thereafter punched the singer in the mouth.

“When the singer called his security detail to stop him he also threatened to shoot him before the intervention of his colleagues.

“This assault on the highly respected music producer is condemnable, the matter should be investigated and justice served”.

When contacted, Mr Ayefele confirmed the physical assault on him by the NSCDC officer.

The founder of Fresh FM Nigeria said, “I was moving out in my car after entertaining guests, the officer suddenly dipped his hand into my car to take my money but I resisted him and told him what he did was very wrong.

“That was how he gave me a punch on my mouth, I had cut on my lips and blood started gushing out. When I called my security detail to hold him he stood in the front of my car corking his rifle and threatening to shoot me.

“At that point, his colleagues came and I explained what he did to them. While trying to shield him, they also accused me of fighting them, that I am a public figure and I don’t want to give them something? I said if I didn’t want to give him something, I wouldn’t have stopped, wind down my car. I have settled the area boys and others. I wept profusely, because they did this to me because I am physically challenged.

“They later brought the guy who came to collect money for the area boys who was said to have been beaten while trying to take the money away. He told me how he was beaten and attacked with sharp objects just to frame me up but I have put my lawyer in the know”.