Entertainment / Fraud / News

EFCC reportedly seizes Obi Cubana international passport, says he is still in their custody

There are reports the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly confiscated the passport of socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana.

According to Punch, the seizure of his travel document was to prevent him from leaving the country while under investigation.

Contrary to earlier reports, the billionaire businessman is still in the custody of the commission. “Obi Cubana has not been released, he is still having quality sessions with investigators over alleged money laundering running into millions of naira and tax fraud,” a source revealed.

“He will be released when he has satisfactorily responded to all questions relating to his involvement in various illegal deals. As part of investigation, his travel document has been temporarily seized pending the conclusion of investigations.”

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed that the suspect is still in custody, however, said he has no information on the seizure of his passport.

Obi Cubana was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, November 1, 2021.

Obi Cubana is said to have been arrested for alleged money laundering and tax fraud.

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Entertainment / Music / News

American rapper Jay Z finally joins Instagram

American rapper and billionaire Jay Z has finally joined the social media app, Instagram.

At the time of publishing this article, the rapper had already amassed over 1.3 million followers.

The only person that the rapper and mogul is following on the account is his wife, Beyoncé. He is also the only person that Beyoncé is following on IG. The billionaire’s first post interestingly is a photo from Netflix’s The Harder They Fall film.  He co-produced the movie.

It stars Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo, Deon Cole, and others.

He also uploaded an IG Story featuring a premiere countdown clock for the film.

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Uncategorized

FirstBank unveils fully automated branch

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has unveiled its first fully automated branch: First Bank Digital Experience Centre. for customers.

The Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Adeduntan said the digital experience center would afford customers the opportunity to carry out various banking activities on their own without interacting with anyone.

He said the branch was a reinvention of digital banking solutions in the country as customers were exposed to a seamless world-class banking experience. The self-service branch is built with a wide range of phased modern banking facilities, which include humanoid robots equipped with Video Banking and Artificial Intelligence (AI),” said Adeduntan.

According to him, the device takes on the role of friendly branch staff, Teller Cash Recyclers and Self-Service kiosks for non-financial transactions such as account update.

He said it also performs the role of Fast Track (Contactless) ATMs and Interactive Smart Screen to ensure effective and comprehensive consultation with bank sales staff via remote video connection.

Adeduntan added: “Other services include funds transfer, dispensing of new ATM cards; fixed deposit booking between N100,000.00 to N5,000,000.00, card services and management, cheque management, email and phone number update, amongst many others.

“With our Digital Experience Centre, we have reiterated our role in pioneering leading innovative technology-driven solutions.

“Our self-service branch exemplifies the future of banking in Nigeria and we remain committed to putting You, our customers First.”

Adeduntan also noted that the First Bank Digital Experience Centre was piloted by the bank’s remodeled Adetokunbo Ademola branch, Victoria Island.…

Breaking News / News / Oil & Gas

NEMA warns of massive gas leakage at computer village, Oba-Akran, Awolowo, Anifowose axis

A massive gas pipeline leak is reportedly taking place in some areas around Ikeja, Lagos State.

NEMA’s acting Coordinator for Lagos State Territory, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the incident while asking residents in the Computer Village/Under bridge, Awolowo Way, Oba Akran axis, Anifowoshe Street, and Medical Road to avoid coming into contact with naked flames for safety concerns. The agency said a distress alert was received about a massive leakage of gas pipeline around these areas.

The agency called on residents to proceed with extreme caution.

Mr.  Farinloye stated that emergency responders are attempting to avert the unexpected. Residents around these areas have been advised not open shops pending when normalcy will return.…

Crime / Education / News / Security

Police rescue six persons kidnapped in University of Abuja

There are indications that six people kidnapped by bandits at the University of Abuja staff quarters on Tuesday have been rescued successfully.

A staff of the University confirmed that the victims were rescued at Abaji, along Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.

The staff said this was achieved with the help of the Police and local vigilante.

“The rescued victims are currently at the Abaji police station,” the staff said. On Tuesday morning, some unspecified number of bandits invaded the staff quarters of the University located at Giri, along Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, attacked staff and their family members, and made away with six people.

The attack sent strong fears and panic among students and lecturers of the school, who had before now registered their concerns about the poor state of security in the school and its environs, particularly the increasing number of strange faces and movements within the school campus.

Some of the frightened residents threatened to vacate the staff quarters as quickly as possible because of the fear of further attacks by the bandits.

The abducted persons include a nine-year-old son of Prof. Bassey Ubong and his housemaid, one Deputy Registrar identified as Malam Mohammed Sambo, one Prof. Sumaila Obansa Joseph with his son and one Dr. Tobins Ferguson Hamilton.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, Chairman and members of the Governing Council, and other management staff of the school as well as the police and detachment of soldiers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were the early callers at the venue of the attack.

Students at both at the mini and main campuses of the University were seen in groups discussing the development, with fear and anxiety written all over their face.

Victims and eyewitnesses told journalists that the bandits, undoubtedly, took advantage of the porosity of the school community, gained entry into the staff quarters through the unfenced part of the quarters, and begun to unleash terror on the residents.

They confirmed that the operation started few minutes past 12am on Tuesday, and lasted for …

Business / News / politics

Nigeria owes China $3b, says World Bank

The total amount of money owed to the Chinese government by the Federal Government as at March last year rose to $3.121 billion (N1,126.68 trillion at USD/N361).

The amount represents only 3.94 per cent of Nigeria’s total public debt of $79.21 billion as at September 2021.

Similarly, in terms of external sources of funds, loans from China accounted for 11.28 per cent  of the External Debt Stock of USD27.67 billion as at the same date.

According to document from World Bank, the  total borrowing from China of USD3.121 billion as at March 31, 2020, are concessional loans with interest rates of 2.50 per cent per annum with a  tenor of 20 years and grace period (moratorium) of seven years.

“These terms are compliant with the provisions of Section 41 (1a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. In addition, the low interest rate reduces the interest cost to government while the long tenor enables the repayment of the principal sum of the loans over many years. These two benefits, make the provisions for debt service in the annual budget lower than they would otherwise have been if the loans were on commercial terms,” the document said.

The $3.121 billion loans, the document explained, are project-tied loans.

The projects, (11 in number as at March 31, 2020), include: Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Idu-Kaduna section), Abuja Light Rail Project, Nigerian Four Airport Terminals Expansion Project (Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt), Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Lagos-Ibadan section) and Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi Road Project.

The document added: “The impact of these loans is not only evident but visible. For instance, the Idu-Kaduna Rail Line has become a major source of transportation between Abuja and Kaduna. Also, the new International Airport in Abuja, has improved air transportation for the populace, while the Lagos-Ibadan Rail line when completed, will ease traffic on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“The projects also have the added benefits of job creation, not only by themselves but through direct and indirect service providers, a number of which are Small and …

News

Dozens feared trapped after deadly collapse of high-rise in Nigeria

Lagos — Desperate relatives waited on Tuesday for news of missing people a day after a Lagos high-rise building collapsed suddenly, killing at least six people and leaving more trapped inside. The 21-story building was still under construction when it fell abruptly into a pile of concrete slabs on Monday in the wealthy Ikoyi district of Nigeria’s commercial capital. Rescuers said they had managed to pull six people out of the wreckage, but construction workers feared dozens of their colleagues were still trapped inside on Tuesday.

CBS News correspondent Debora Patta said that as time passed, hopes of finding any survivors were fading fast. Rescue workers and locals worked through the night, scouring the mound of rubble and twisted metal.

Sitting on the pavement near the crushed remains of the building, brothers Fawas Sanni, 21 and Afolabi Sanni, 17, were shell shocked as they waited for news of their sister. “Our sister is inside,” said Fawas, a tear rolling down his cheek. Their 25-year-old-sister Zainab was posted on September 6 to the construction site by the National Youth Service Corps, they said. “I was the last one who to spoke to her before she went to work yesterday morning,” said the older brother, covering his head with his hands.

Patta said that some local reports claimed the building had been constructed several floors higher than originally intended, and authorities were criticized by angry crowds gathered at the scene of the disaster, who said rescue efforts didn’t start quickly enough.

As Patta reported, the scene was all too familiar — a replay of building collapses that have plagued Nigeria in recent years. Collapses are tragically common in Lagos and across Africa’s most populous nation, where substandard materials, negligence and a lack of enforcement of construction standards are major problems. Lagos state police said it was too early to determine why the Ikoyi building collapsed, but Lagos emergency management agency manager Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said infractions had been committed in its construction. “We are going to get to the roots of the matter …

Football / Sports

Tottenham appoint Conte as manager after sacking Nuno

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Antonio Conte as their new manager until the summer of 2023, the Premier League club said on Tuesday, a day after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo.

Former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Conte replaces Nuno, who was sacked after 17 matches in charge, with last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United in the league his final game with Spurs.

Conte had been out of work since terminating his contract at Inter in May, shortly after he led them to their first Serie A title in 11 years last season.

“I am extremely happy to return to coaching, and to do so at a Premier League club that has the ambition to be a protagonist (in the title race) again,” Conte said in a statement.

“I can’t wait to start working to convey to the team and the fans the passion, mentality and determination that have always distinguished me, as a player and as a coach.”

Tottenham had topped the Premier League standings in August under Nuno after winning their opening three games but are now ninth, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea after 10 matches.

Conte’s first game in charge will be Thursday’s Conference League match at home to Vitesse Arnhem.…

BBNaija / Entertainment / News

‘I didn’t know the app’s feature had changed, it was a mistake’ – BBNaija’s Cross speaks about nude video

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Cross, has broken his silence over his recent nude video which he accidentally shared on Snapchat.

In an exclusive interview with TVC Entertainment, the reality TV star revealed that it was a simple mistake.

“It was a simple mistake it wasn’t a big deal, it was a mistake. Like I said earlier, I’m not really back with my phone so once in a while, I get to use it. So I didn’t know that Snapchat has changed a lot of its features,” he said.

“So it was a mistake, it was just a mistake of a thing. And before I knew it I quickly deleted it. It was a simple mistake. People should understand the type of person I am, first of all, I am a human being and me I wear my heart on my sleeves. So this whole entertainment, social media thing and lifestyle is still new to me.”

The reality TV star said he is still trying to get accustomed to the life of a celebrity which he isn’t used to.

“I’m trying to get the concept about ‘do this don’t do this’ its choking me, I just want to be me. I just want to live how I have always wanted to be,” he said.

The reality TV star said he is still trying to get accustomed to the life of a celebrity which he isn’t used to.

“I’m trying to get the concept about ‘do this don’t do this’ its choking me, I just want to be me. I just want to live how I have always wanted to be,” he said.

“I’m just a guy that just wants to have a good time and in the process make a lot of money to provide for his family. So it was just a simple mistake, so anybody that is saying anything out of it, Ndooo.”

Cross made the headlines of virtually every online media outlet on Wednesday, October

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Entertainment / Fraud / Law / Music / News

Naira Marley shows up in court as EFCC displays more evidence against him

Nigerian music star Naira Marley was at the court to defend himself against the Internet fraud charges levelled against him.

On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, the EFCC testified against the singer, showing various pieces of evidence to buttress its point. According to Anosike, about 2,410 short messages were analysed from the iPhone of the defendant while also stating that different credit card numbers were extracted from the iPhone.

According to the witness, the Apple iPhone is a sophisticated device capable of storing a large volume of information, adding that it is the sim card that basically identifies users of applications such as WhatsApp.

The witness said 977 Short Message Service (SMS) and 1,433 chat messages, were discovered in the witness’ iPhone while adding that there were also seven pending status update messages.

Anosike was still leading evidences in the trial of the defendant, who is facing an 11 counts charge, bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards as well as fraud.

The anti-graft agency preferred the charges on May 14, 2019

Fashola, who sang the popular song: “Am I a Yahoo Boy”, was consequently, arraigned on May 20, 2019 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but he pleaded not guilty.

The court had accordingly, granted him bail in the sum of two million naira, with two sureties in like sum.

Trial had since commenced in the case and the second prosecution witness who began his testimony shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, continued his evidence on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the witness who resumed his testimony on Tuesday, concluded his evidence after the virtual display.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had told the court at the last adjourned date, that the prosecution only printed out hard copies of relevant portions of the exhibit, which it considered key to its case.

He had told the court that a full version of the total analysis was contained in a CD

The printed copies of the exhibit is labeled exhibit F while

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Crime / News / Transportation

Nigerian Pilot, another found guilty in US of cocaine trafficking by air

A Nigerian pilot, Jibril Adamu, and a Gabonese, who is also a citizen of the United States of America and a pilot, Jean-Claude Okongo Landji, have been found guilty of conspiracy to use a US-registered aircraft to fly tons of cocaine between South America, Africa and Europe.

The United States of America Department of Justice announced the development in a statement on Wednesday.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Wendy C. Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, announced that a jury returned guilty verdicts against Adamu and Landji on the charge of conspiring to traffic five kilograms and more of cocaine on board an aircraft owned by a United States citizen and registered in the United States.

US District Judge Paul G. Gardephe presided over the two weeks trial. US. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a jury found, Jean-Claude Okongo Landji and Jibril Adamu sought to exploit their abilities as pilots and use Landji’s private jet to smuggle multi-ton loads of cocaine from South America to West Africa and on to Europe and elsewhere.  Presuming they would be able to make regular runs to Europe, figuratively flying under the radar, Landji and Adamu were instead arrested in Croatia at the end of an initial test flight.  Now they await sentencing for their crime.”

The statement stated: “As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial: Beginning in or about October 2017, LANDJI, ADAMU, and others agreed to use a United States-registered Gulfstream G2 private jet owned by LANDJI, a United States citizen, to distribute multi-ton quantities of cocaine in South America, Africa, Europe, and elsewhere.  LANDJI and ADAMU, who are both pilots, planned to use the G2 and other aircraft to fly unregistered and untraceable ‘black flights’ with multi-thousand kilogram loads of cocaine from South America to West Africa to be unloaded at clandestine airstrips, including landing sites in the Sahara desert.  After the cocaine was off-loaded in …

Basket Ball / Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder overturn sizeable deficit to beat Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered defeat from the jaws of victory as the Oklahoma City Thunder came back from 26 points down to prevail 123-115.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points as the Thunder won their first game of the season against the Lakers, who were without LeBron James.

Los Angeles were up 56-30 in the second quarter as former Oklahoma City player Russell Westbrook celebrated his 185th career triple-double.

Laker Carmelo Anthony missed a three-point attempt with 9.7 seconds left to play which would have tied the game as LA fell to 2-3 for the season.

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Basket Ball / Sports

Heat pull away to beat Nets 106-93

Bam Adebayo had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 106-93 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Jimmy Butler added 17 points for Miami (3-1). P.J. Tucker finished with 15, and Tyler Herro and Dewayne Dedmon each contributed 14.

A preseason favorite to win the NBA championship, Brooklyn has alternated losses and wins through the first five games of the season and dropped to 2-3. Kevin Durant finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

”I like how we’re playing defense the last couple games,” Durant said. ”I like where our defense is trending. … I feel like we’re generating good shots. We’re just (not) knocking them down. If we continue to generate good shots we’ll put ourselves in good position.”

Joe Harris contributed 15 points on 5-for-15 shooting, including 5 for 11 from 3-point range. With his third 3-pointer of the game, Harris passed Jason Kidd as the franchise’s career leader in made 3-pointers.

James Harden had 14 points and Bruce Brown chipped in with 12.

The first of four regular-season matchups between the Eastern Conference rivals was a contrast in styles, the flashy, up-tempo, high-scoring Nets against a physical Heat squad.

Despite forcing the Nets to play a possession-by-possession game for much of the first half, the Heat trailed 51-49 at the half. Miami had outscored Brooklyn in the paint (30-20), had more second-chance points (15-2), and had a decided edge in rebounds (35-25).

”We have a bunch of like-minded guys,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”(That’s) the way those guys are hard-wired.”

What the Heat did not have, though, was the tandem of Durant and Harden, who combined for 25 of Brooklyn’s 51 points in the half. Durant also grabbed eight rebounds while Harden added three boards and three assists.

Miami stayed with its approach and it paid dividends in the third quarter, as the Heat outscored the Nets 32-23 and took an 81-74 lead into the fourth. The Heat extended their lead to 88-77 before Brooklyn used a 7-2 spurt to …

Basket Ball / Sports

Damian Lillard Continues His Struggles, LA Clippers Defeat Portland Trail Blazers 116-86

After suffering two tough losses to begin the season, the LA Clippers have gotten their first win, blowing out the Portland Trail Blazers 116-86 on Monday night. The team was backed by a special shooting performance from Luke Kennard, and when combined with the team’s stellar defense, it was enough to get a blowout win.

Coming into this matchup against the Blazers, there was some concern surrounding the Clippers’ ability to defend Portland’s perimeter attack. The team had struggled in their first two games containing dynamic guard play, and the Blazers have no shortage of it. Despite this concern, Damian Lillard never really got going.

The Clippers took a 56-42 lead into halftime, and that point, Lillard had just 8 points on 3/8 shooting and 0/5 from deep. His co-star CJ McCollum was able to get a little bit more freedom in that first half, pouring in 16 points on 6/14 shooting; however, the Clippers were likely content with the way they defended that duo through 24 minutes.

Fortunately for the Clippers, the 2nd half was more of the same. Lillard finished with just 12 points on 4/15 from the field and 0/8 from deep, while McCollum ended with 20 points on 7/16 shooting. Ty Lue’s ability to effectively show those two guards different looks was successful all night. Eric Bledsoe, Nicolas Batum, Terance Mann, and Justise Winslow all took turns defending Portland’s backcourt duo, and each did a solid job.

As a team, the Clippers forced 30 turnovers which is just the 8th time in franchise history such a mark has been achieved, and the first time since 1996 that the clip was reached. Of the 30 turnovers, 21 were steals, which was the 2nd most in a game in franchise history. A combination of solid defense and sloppy offense from Portland created some historic defensive numbers for the Clippers.

Offensively for the Clippers, it was the Luke Kennard show. As the team wants him to do, Kennard was hunting shots. They tend to go in when he does …

Entertainment / Movies / News

Sylvester Stallone is exiting ‘The Expendables’ franchise!

Sylvester Stallone has confirmed his exit from ‘The Expendables’ franchise, having just completed the fourth film which will be his final.

Stallone in an Instagram video on Friday made the announcement saying; “This will be my last day, I’m enjoying it, but it’s always bittersweet when something you’ve been so attached to – I guess since, well now it’s been about 12 years – and ready to pass the baton on to Jason [Statham] in his capable hands.”

“The greatest thing is being able to provide films that are somewhat entertaining and maybe there’s a little message in there because what I try to convey in my successful films is the human touch. Not so much the action, the action is self-evident, but it’s just relating to the audience in a way that they can identify with whatever the mission is with the characters at hand… Just providing some escapism and hoping there’s a little something extra in there.”

The series follows the titular Expendables, a group of elite mercenaries led by Barney Ross (Stallone) overthrowing a Latin American tyrant, pursuing vengeance against a rival mercenary, and dealing with a violent arms dealer have all been among the group’s assignments.

However, plot details for the fourth film are being kept under wraps at moment.

The first ‘The Expendables’ film released in 2010 followed by sequels in 2012 and 2014.

Along with Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture appeared in all three films, and the series has also had cameos from Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, and Harrison Ford.

Megan Fox, Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent and Tony Jaa will join the cast of ‘The Expendables 4’. The new installment is scheduled to hit theaters in 2022.

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Entertainment / Music / News

‘My mum hates it when I tell her I’m never getting married’ – Burna Boy

Nigerian music star Burna Boy has revealed how his mother, Bose Ogulu, gets really angry every time shuts down the idea of settling down.

In a post shared via his Instagram Stories on Monday, October 25, 2021, the singer said his mother turns red every time he tells her he is never getting married.

“My mum hates it so much whenever I tell her I’m not getting married. She turns red. My own issue is that now I’m too sure if I really mean it or I just say it to piss her off,” he wrote. The Grammy award-winning singer may have put to rest the rumors that he had secretly gotten married to his girlfriend, Stefflon Don.

It would be recalled that in a video which went viral in September 2020, Burna Boy was seen repeatedly calling the rapper his wife.

“Look what my wife got me mehn,” he said making reference to a necklace he was putting on. “You see, you need a wife like my own, that’s the problem,” he added.

Prior to this video, there had been speculations about their engagement.

Recall in February when Stefflon Don shared a photo of herself wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring.

The two first went public with their relationship in 2019.

…
Entertainment / News

‘Now I know why some ladies don’t show off their husbands on social media – IG dancer Janemena

Popular Instagram dancer Janemena has disclosed how she now knows why a lot of women don’t show off their husbands on social media.

The dancer disclosed this via her Instagram Stories on Monday, October 25, 2021.

“To every lady who does not show off their spouse, I understand you now. It is because social media will destroy it. It is because miserable, sad and lonely ‘not by choice’ people do not like anything that makes one happy unless they are happy and it rubs off on you somehow,” she wrote. “I’m a very young girl and I’m making a lot of changes to my life. But it’s still the audacity for me.”

Janamena and her hubby tied the knot about a year ago and only recently their union was tested on social media after Tonto Dikeh revealed her former boyfriend, Prince Kpokpogri, had her sex tapes. The IG dancer went on to sue Dikeh over her malicious and damaging comments.

In a plot twist, a leaked audiotape where Kpokpogri admitted to having sex with the IG dancer after she got married surfaced on social media.

…
News / Transportation

Transporters demand palliatives from enforcers of IPOB sit-at-home order

Transporters in Abia State have appealed to the enforcers of the weekly sit-at-home order in the South East to give them palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown on them.

The drivers made the appeal in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria Correspondent in Umuahia.

Speaking in the state capital on Monday, they said the development was making things difficult for them.

They complained that the transport sector was the worst hit by the directive as their vehicles were usually attacked or vandalized, while passengers on the other hand hardly come out of their homes for fear of attacks. NAN reports that residents of the five South East states have been groaning under the frequent order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

The residents have continued to comply with the Monday weekly order in spite of its suspension by IPOB, which directed that it should be observed only on the days its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is to appear in court.

Kanu, who in the custody of the Department of State Services, is being tried for treason and among other charges.

Residents expressed worry that the weekly exercise would cripple the socio-economic activities in the region, known for commerce and trade.

Henry Okezie, Chairman, Abia State Drivers’ Welfare Union, said the exercise had dealt a deadly blow on the transport sector.

Okezie said: “This frequent sit-at-home is really affecting us because we can’t operate if we don’t see passengers.

“Most of our members have their vehicles on hire purchase, which means that we must work every day to meet the target.

“We are appealing to the enforcers of this exercise to give us some palliatives in order to cushion the effect.

“We have over 200 members at this Isigate Park in Umuahia whose buses are operating on Umuahia-Ikwuano and Umuahia-Ubakala routes.

“Each of us make a minimum of N10,000 daily.

“So any day we don’t work, we lose over N2 million on average.”

Okezie said they would continue to comply in fear with the directive because “some of …

Law / News / politics

NBA ‘cowardly voiceless’ to Nigeria’s challenges — Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Nigeria Bar Association of being “comfortably indifferent and cowardly voiceless” to issues and challenges affecting good governance, democracy, legal system and the rule of law.

Wike stated this on Monday in Port Harcourt at the NBA 2021 Annual Conference, with the theme: “Taking The Lead.”

He stated confronting the government may be tough and often misinterpreted politically, but there should be no room for reticence, retreat or surrender.

He said: “We must aspire to have excellence in our judicial system and prevent innocent persons from suffering adversity because of the failures of our legal system.

“We must speak about judges’ lack of courage to enforce our laws with equal measure, or worse still, because they have sold out to some form of political intimidation or pressure.”

According to Wike, taking the Llad, therefore, is to transform and reform the NBA to an activist association willing and ready to use the law to advance the values and aspirations of the law profession, and for the progress of society as a positive social force for change with courage and determination.

He said: “Taking the Lead is to reclaim and uphold the values of the profession we once held; to have the courage to challenge what is wrong and unjust; to break free from tired traditions and status quo of the system.

“To question the motives of unfair and inequitable governmental actions and decisions; as well as to take appropriate and bold steps to eliminate the increasing costs, delays and drudgery of our criminal justice system.

“Taking the lead is to embrace the truth and having no patience for injustice; no tolerance for bad governance.”

The Rivers State Governor said for the NBA to take the lead, it must have no sympathy for political leaders who fail their citizens.

He said there should be no sympathy for timid and incompetent judicial officers who betray their judicial oath with wrong and conscienceless judgements.

He added: “I do hope and pray that from this conference the …

News

Missing Journalist: IG assures NUJ of resolving case

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, on Monday assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists of the Force’s readiness to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of Tordue Henry Salem, a reporter with the Vanguard Newspapers.

The I-G gave the assurance when members of NUJ, FCT Council carried out a peaceful march to his office in Abuja.

The journalists were there to express displeasure with the silence of the police on the matter.

Baba, represented by Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed that Salem’s case was with them, explaining that it was officially reported to the National Assembly Police Station on October 15. He said from their investigation, Salem slept in the house of his sister somewhere around Life Camp on October 12, woke up on October 13, took a Bolt Taxi to the National Assembly, where he worked for Vanguard.

He added: “After close of work, he was last seen at the National Assembly between 4pm and 5pm on October 13 and thereafter his colleagues never saw him again.

“On October 15, the matter was formally reported at the National Assembly’s Police Station.

“The attention of the FCT Commissioner of Police and IG were drawn to the case.

“The IGP gave a firm instruction that all materials and human resources should be deployed at locating and understanding the rationale behind Salem’s disappearance.

“As I speak to you, we have made significant progress in investigation.

“However,  I am glad that the Chairman of NUJ, FCT Council understood the significance of confidential briefing and because of that request, I would rather do more of confidential briefing.

“But we were able to trace when he left the National Assembly.

“We were able to interact with a young lady who spent time with him that night.

“We have the recordings of the last call he made.

“Also, we were able to speak with six different persons he spoke to that night.

“So, there are a lot of efforts behind the scene taking place.

“The Police intentionally kept quiet on the case.…