The winner of the first Miss Nigeria beauty pageant held in 1957, Grace Oyelude, has been celebrated on her 93rd birthday.

This was disclosed in a post on Instagram by the Miss Nigeria Organisation on Thursday, November 16.

The caption read, “We are immensely delighted to celebrate the evergreen beauty and brave leader, Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude, on her 93rd birthday.

“Her courage, resolve, and great strength of character are excellent qualities that have endeared her to us and many others.

“Happy birthday, once again, to the first Miss Nigeria, Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude.

“Thank you for paving the way and setting the standards that all Miss Nigeria Queens walkthrough, as well as your priceless contributions towards women’s empowerment.”

The new Commissioner of Police, Danjuma Aboki, has restated the resolve of the Imo State Command to stop sit-at-home order in Imo State by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliates as well as the Eastern Security Network (ESN)

The CP also dvised officers of the Command to uphold respect for human rights in the discharge of their duties.

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In his maiden address to senior police officers in the state, on Friday, the CP urged the officers to work to stamp out the order for the survival of socioeconomic activities of the state.

The CP, who assumed duty on November 13, expressed readiness to embrace his new assignment with utmost dedication.

He charged the senior officers to take the bull by the horn in ensuring the security of the state irrespective of how challenging the task might be.

He said: “As officers and men of the Command, you must respect the highest standards of fundamental human rights and the rule of law in discharging your constitutional duties.”

According to him, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the CP insisted that the Command must be vanguards of justice and continue to work to improve police relations.

While thanking the IGP Egbetokun for his logistics and other support that ensured water tight security during the November 11 governorship election, he equally paid tribute to the state Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma for providing operational vehicles for the command.

The CP urged Imo residents to report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods for prompt action.

The New Commissioner of Police, Imo State. CP Danjuma Aboki.

Following allegations of improper conduct levelled against some traditional rulers in Abia State, the State Governor, Alex Otti, inaugurated a board of inquiry yesterday to look into the allegations for his necessary actions.

The Board of Inquiry has Justice Igbo Akomas (Rtd) as the chairman and Mrs. Gold Digbo as the secretary, while others are Eze Linus Mba, Eze Nelson Nmerengwa, and Mrs. Nkechi Ikechi.

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Inaugurating the Board, the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, enumerated their terms of reference to include inviting and interrogating all necessary persons involved in the cause of their investigations, making necessary recommendations to the governor, and evaluating appropriate sanctions.

Nwachukwu explained that the government will support them in carrying out the assignment, disclosing that they have three weeks to submit their reports.

The Commissioner explained that the present administration is not interested in witch-hunting anybody but will ensure that the integrity of the traditional rulers and traditional institutions in the state is maintained.

Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry, Justice Igbo Akomas (Rtd), and a member of the Board of Inquiry and Chairman State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Linus Mba, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy of the assignment and assured that they would carry out the assignment diligently in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Information has it that traditional rulers are being investigated over alleged “disrespect to the office of the Governor and other gross misconduct”

The Lagos State Police Command has released Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley and Samson Erinfolami Balogun, known as Sam Larry, after meeting their bail conditions.

A spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the release.

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, on Monday, November 6, 2023, granted the duo bail in the sum of N20m with three responsible duties.

Naira Marley, Sam Larry and two others were arraigned and remanded on October 6 over their alleged involvement in circumstances surrounding the death of a musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

The magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, told the defendants to submit their passports and ordered that they are to report weekly to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.

While confirming the release, Hundeyin said, “Naira Marley and Sammy Larry, having met their bail conditions, have been released.”

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Since Mohbad’s demise, Nigerians have demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. There were protests in several parts of Nigeria as young people poured into the streets to register their grievances over the singer’s death.

Although Mohbad was buried less than two days after he died, police authorities exhumed his remains. An autopsy was later conducted, but the result is not yet out.

The Federal Government also waded into the matter, with the Senate visiting the late singer’s family and observing a moment of silence over the star’s demise.

Two policemen were killed on Friday, November 17, in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state as unidentified gunmen attacked a police patrol team.

Police spokesperson in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the incident in a statement.

According to her, the policemen were on regular patrol when they were attacked at Nwofe road by gunmen suspected to be members of a pro-separatist group.

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She said a third policeman in the team was wounded and currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

She said: “Today 17/11/2023 at about 08:30 am, Operatives of the Command on patrol at Nwofe road at the outskirt of Abakaliki were attacked by armed hoodlums using a tinted Highlander vehicle with registration number unknown.

“Two (2) of the Operatives were fatally wounded while one (1) is currently receiving medical treatment at the hospital.”

The spokesperson noted that the Commissioner Of police in the state, Augustina Ogbodo on receiving the distress call immediately dispatched Tactical teams to the scene.

She said the tactical team swung into action by giving the hoodlums a hot chase but the hoodlums escaped.

The commissioner of Police, it was gathered, also visited the scene of the incident with her management team for an on-the-spot assessment.

Onome added: “She is using this medium to call on well-meaning individuals of the State to avail the Command with useful information that can lead to the arrest of the fleeing hoodlums while assuring them of round-the-clock visibility patrol of the nooks and crannies of the state.”

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has presented N500 million gratuity to pensioners in the state to clear the backlog of gratuities so as to guarantee their welfare in their old age.

Oyebanji made the presentation on Thursday while receiving the beneficiaries numbering about 140 at Jibowu Hall, Ado-Ekiti.

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The governor said his administration was aware of the hardship caused by the subsidy removal on the senior citizens who had served the state meritoriously for the better part of their lives while assuring that he would always look for avenues to cushion the effect of the economic situation.

While disclosing that efforts were in top gear to work our modalities on clearing the backlog of all gratuity arrears, Oyebanji said his administration would also consider the demand for monthly payment of gratuity to Pensioners.

He said, “On all outstanding issues, we are working so hard to ensure that we crack those nuts; I’m aware of all the arrears of pensions and check-off dues and many things that are still due to our people.

“We intend to come to a point where we reach an appreciable number of pensioners, and you know that a committee has been put in place, and very soon, discussion will be concluded on it. We are trying to get the best deal for our people. What will gladden my heart is to sit down and see that we are doing N20 billion, and if feasible, it will get to a larger number.

“Also, on what the labour leaders refer to as wage award, I will not rush and promise you something that I will start and won’t be able to sustain. If I want applause, I can award it too, and when it is no longer sustainable, we start dragging it.

“That is not my style because I promised to deal with you in truth. So, we are looking at the numbers, they’re working out the scenarios, and whatever we promise we will do for you is sure it is something we can carry. I don’t want to do something; I will stop mid-way.”

Meanwhile, speaking at the event, the Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe, commended the Governor on the drive to ensure careful implementation of his administration’s cardinal programmes and policies to impact positively on the lives of the people, saying the various disbursements he had made for pensioners in the state laid credence to his resolve to make life meaningful and worthwhile for the people.

Oyebanji with other executive members.
Komolafe called on citizens of the state to continue to support the government with their prayers to achieve a better Ekiti where everyone will be comfortable in the shared prosperity agenda of the state.

The state’s chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kolapo Olatunde, and his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress, Sola Adigun, opined that the narratives had changed concerning the issues of pension and gratuity payment in the state since the inception of the present administration.

Some beneficiaries, including Mrs Christiana Ademulegun, Mr Joseph Abiola, and Mrs Janet Ogunlade, thanked the Governor for prioritising issues concerning pensioners’ welfare.

Also at the event were the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye; Speaker, House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akintunde Oyebode; members of state Executive Council and Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro.