Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has ordered the reversal of all command promotions made by the former governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, over the past nine years. This directive, announced through a statement by the State Head of Service, Ngozi Obioma, is part of an effort to reform the state public service. The action aligns with the provisions of Public Service Rule 1. The governor’s directive, as outlined in a letter dated July 4, takes effect from July 1. The memo reads: “Sequel to the unwavering commitment of the present administration to reform the Abia Public Service in…

The troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested two Indigenous People of Biafra members identified as Ifeanyi Godwin and Uche Onuoha in Anambra State. The two suspects were intercepted inside a Sport Utility Viechle near Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area with two pump-action rifles and 41 cartridges among others. Onuoha and Godwin according to a post by the Nigerian Army on Wednesday on X, had been on the Nigeria Police wanted list since 2023. The Army said, “In Anambra State, troops on patrol successfully intercepted and arrested two suspected IPOB/ESN members identified as Ifeanyi Godwin and Uche Onuoha, in…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, and six others are expected to appear in court on Thursday over charges related to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds. This development comes after a notice of trial served on the respondents through substituted means by order of the court. A Kano State High Court granted the order on June 5, 2024, allowing the state to serve the seven respondents through substituted service, which was subsequently executed via advertisements in two national newspapers on June 6, 2024. The respondents in the case include Abdullahi…

A manhunt is underway on Wednesday following the deaths of three women after they were found seriously injured at a residence in Hertfordshire, southeastern England. Hertfordshire police were called to a property in the town of Bushey just before 7 p.m. BST (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, where they discovered the three women with severe injuries. All three succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit has identified Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, north London, as a person of interest in this case. Clifford is believed to be in either the Hertfordshire or north…

Plateau State has fixed October 9, 2024, for the conduct of local government elections. The Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, Plangji Cishak, disclosed this on Wednesday during an ongoing meeting with leaders of political parties held at the commission’s headquarters in Jos, the state capital. Plangji said the council poll would be conducted across the 17 local government areas of the state, which are currently under the management of Transition Implementation Committee Chairmen.

France captain Kylian Mbappe said his side “didn’t do enough” in Tuesday’s 2-1 semi-final loss to Spain and admitted he was disappointed after underperforming at Euro 2024. “We didn’t do enough to get to the final,” Mbappe told reporters. “They (Spain) played better than us, they deserved to go to the final and we are going home.” Mbappe set up Randal Kolo Muani’s ninth-minute opener, but Spain hit back to take the lead with two strikes in four minutes midway through the first half. “I had the ambition of becoming European champion. I had the goal of having a good…

An Ikeja Special Offences Court yesterday heard how former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele transferred millions of naira to his wife, Magaret. An assistant bank manager, Mrs Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, told Justice Rahman Oshodi that millions of naira was also moved in several tranches into several companies’ accounts. Emefiele is standing trial over abuse of office and alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud before the court while in office. The former apex bank boss is facing trial before three courts in Lagos and Abuja. His co-defendant is Henry Omoile. In a separate corruption case, the High Court…

The Peoples Democratic Party has approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, to appeal the Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the primaries that produced Asue Ighodalo as its gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming 2024 governorship election in Edo State. The appellant (PDP), in an appeal hinged on 25 grounds, asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court delivered on July 4, 2024. Recall that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had declared the PDP primary election held on February 22 in Edo State as invalid. Justice Ekwo held that the PDP…

Lionel Messi was on target as world champions Argentina turned on the style to beat Canada 2-0 on Tuesday and reach the Copa America final where they will look for a third straight major title. The defending Copa champions will face the winners of Wednesday’s semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia in what will be a highly anticipated final in Miami on Sunday. The 15-times Copa champions produced their best display of the tournament in front of a capacity crowd at the 82,500 MetLife Stadium and as in their 2022 World Cup triumph they look to be peaking at the perfect…

President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Festus Osifo said labour and the Federal Government were in talks before the bill on a new national minimum wage was forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu. Osifo confirmed that labour has had meetings with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other government officials to ensure that the new minimum wage would “cater to the needs of the poorest of the poor.” He spoke at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Women Commission maiden Annual…