Author: Festus Adeloye

The Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he will, under section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, seek negotiations with the Federal Government. Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act states: “In any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”. Speaking through his lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, Kanu made this known on Wednesday after he moved two applications brought before the court. The first application is to move form 49 and…

World champions Argentina get an expanded Copa America under way on Thursday with Lionel Messi looking to add a second continental title in what is almost certainly his final appearance in the tournament. The 108-year-old competition is being held in the United States with the host nation among six teams from the CONCACAF region joining the 10 South American nations looking for a place in the July 14 final in Miami. While FIFA will be looking closely at the organization of the event, two years out from the World Cup which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico,…

Armed men suspected to be cultists have killed a young man identified as Endwell Awunze at Ula-Pata-Ahoada, Ahaoda Local Government Area of Rivers State. This was as panic has continued in the state over the local government area leadership crisis rocking the state. It was learned that Awunze, alleged to be a “whistle blower” against cultism and other violent crimes in Okporowo community in Ahoada East LGA, was reportedly trailed and killed by cultists. A source in the area disclosed that the victim had left the venue of protest opposite Ahoada East Council where they were protesting against tenure elongation…

A female student of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, identified as Adekolore Idowu Glory, has been reportedly raped to death. Glory, 22, a recent graduate of the university, was said to have been beaten and raped to death at Iyowa Community in Benin City, on June 13. In an X post, a user who identified as Glory’s brother said unknown men attacked her while she was on her way back home from school. Glory, who graduated in April this year, was said to have been processing her clearance when she was killed. Her body was reportedly left close to her…

Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has lost his mother, Florence. Florence died on Tuesday at the age of 89. Saraki confirmed his mother’s death in a statement shared on his social media handles. The statement read, “With profound sadness and total submission to the will of Almighty God, I announce the passing of my beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and matriarch, Chief Mrs. Florence Morenike Saraki, who peacefully transitioned today, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. “Details regarding funeral arrangements will be shared in due course. We appreciate your love, prayers, and support as we mourn Mama’s passing.” Mourning the deceased,…

Opposition federal lawmakers under the aegis of G60 have called for treason charges to be filed against 23 former local government chairmen in Rivers State over their alleged failed plan to illegally remain in power beyond June 17. At an emergency press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the lawmakers accused the former local government chairmen of attempting to forcefully retain their seats even after their constitutionally mandated three-year tenure expired on Monday, June 17, 2024. “This was a treasonable act and clear attempt to unlawfully occupy positions of power in breach of the constitution,” said the spokesperson of the G60,…

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has in the face of the crisis rocking local government leadership in the state summoned and emergency security. Top of the agenda is the crisis rocking the state at moment following alleged threats by local government chairmen, whose tenure elapsed Monday to invade the council scretariats Monday. Fubara said the Security Council Meeting was called because of the recent threat to the peace of the State by the outgone chairmen of the Local Government Councils. He said: “You are all aware that the tenure of the council chairmen ended yesterday, 17th June,…

A policeman and a member of Omuma Security Planning and Advisory Committee, OSPAC, have been feared killed in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State. This was coming as tension and protest spread across the 23 local government areas of the state following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the elected Chairmen of LGAs and ward councillors. There have been reports of shooting by alleged security personnel at the Port Harcourt City LGA Council Secretariat. It was also learned that there were shootings at Obio/Akpor, Emohua, Eleme and Khana LGAs by unidentified persons. However, at noon it was reported…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has offered details on how adverse weather conditions forced two aircraft to fly over Aso Rock, a segment of the Nigerian airspace described by aviation authorities as ” Prohibited Flight Zones” – DNP4. The NCAA said it collaborated with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to investigate two recent cases of violation of the prohibited flight zones in Abuja and established both violations comprised of controlled flights in a controlled airspace but strayed into restricted airspace as a result of adverse weather. Acting Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, in a statement, said:…

Steady gunshots rented the air on Tuesday particularly within the headquarters of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area located along Moscow Road as youths and residents supporting Rivers Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, took over many councils’ headquarters. The protesting youths seized the headquarters and occupied them to stop the local government chairmen and other elected officials contesting tenure elongation from returning to their offices. Though their tenures expired on Monday, June 17, the local government chairmen and supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, had threatened to remain in office for six months…