Home Blog Page 791

Yoruba Youths Oppose Sharia Law In Southwest, Vow To Defend Ancestral Land

The Yoruba Nation Youths have firmly rejected any plans to introduce Sharia law or establish Sharia courts in the South-West region.

In a statement issued by the group’s leaders, Ayodele Ologunloluwa (Diaspora) and Oyegunle Omotoyole (Homebase), they pledged to protect their ancestral land against any efforts to destabilize it, including the imposition of Sharia law.

The statement comes in response to reports that the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (Oyo State Chapter) plans to inaugurate a Sharia court in Oyo town on January 11, 2025.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, located on Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje area, Agbogangan, Oyo.

The Yoruba youths condemned the plan, calling it “laughable” and warning of strong resistance should it proceed.

“We will resist any attempt to impose Sharia law or Sharia courts in Yorubaland,” the statement emphasized. “Yoruba culture and traditions are unique, and any effort to introduce foreign laws will face fierce opposition.”

The group also issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, urging it not to sow division in the region.

“Our focus is on Yoruba Nation self-determination, and we will not allow any external forces to derail our cause,” they said. “Rather than submitting to Hausa-Fulani influence, it is better to stand firm and fight for our rights.”

The youths asserted that Sharia law is incompatible with their values, culture, and way of life.

“We will not allow anyone to disturb the peace of Yorubaland under the guise of religious imposition,” they declared.

“We reject any effort to undermine our faith, culture, and identity. We will fight this agenda with all our strength.”

“No force, either on earth or in hell, can stop the rise of a sovereign Yoruba state.” It concluded.

Google search engine

Court Rejects Police Request To Remand TikToker For 30 Days, Grants Bail

A Lagos Magistrate’s Court in Ogba has rejected the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) request to remand Nigerian TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, known as SeaKing, for 30 days. Instead, the court granted him bail.

SeaKing was arrested and charged by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly inciting the public.

The TikToker had expressed anger over police brutality, urging Nigerian youths to retaliate against any police officer who assaulted them.

He also allegedly insulted President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, attributing the country’s economic struggles to their leadership.

Following these remarks, the police arrested SeaKing shortly after Force Spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi described his actions as cyberbullying.

In a twist, SeaKing’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, encountered a delay in visiting his client at the police command.

Effiong, accompanied by his colleague Jeremiah Okoro and SeaKing’s wife with their infant child, was initially denied access.

Effiong then reported the situation to Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola. However, while waiting to speak with the CP, SeaKing was secretly moved from the CP Tactical Squad 1 custody and taken to the Ogba Magistrate’s Court for remand proceedings.

Effiong quickly followed the information and arrived at the court, where he found SeaKing with police officers.

The police filed a remand application, charging SeaKing with treason, cyberstalking, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and provoking a breach of peace. They accused him of calling on youths to wage war against the police.

Effiong opposed the remand request, arguing that the police had failed to provide sufficient grounds for detaining SeaKing for 30 days.

He requested bail under the provisions of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Section 264 (5).

The Magistrate, after hearing arguments from both sides, ruled in favor of the defense, stating that the police had not shown probable cause to justify a 30-day remand.

SeaKing was granted bail on liberal terms, set at N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be a family member, and both sureties must reside in Lagos State and be employed.

The case has been adjourned to January 16, 2025, for the report on the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) advice.

Google search engine

Police Recover Beheaded Body Of Paulinus Okon Killed By Close Friend

Police in Delta State have uncovered the remains of Paulinus Okon, a victim of a gruesome murder allegedly orchestrated by his close friend, Efe Onoeti.

This was confirmed by the State’s Police Commissioner, Abaniwonda Olufemi, in a press briefing.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the CP ordered an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after learning about the horrific crime.

The sequence of events leading to Paulinus’ death began when he was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother, after going out with his friend, Efe Onoeti, a 30-year-old man.

Initially, Efe denied knowing anything about Paulinus’ whereabouts. However, he later visited the family, claiming Paulinus had been kidnapped and requested a ransom of N500,000 to consult a herbalist who could locate him.

Eventually, Efe allegedly collected a ransom of N20.7 million from the victim’s brother, claiming he was in touch with the kidnappers.

As suspicion grew around Efe, he was arrested, and the investigation was taken over by the State CID.

After further intelligence gathering, one of the suspects, Okeimute Ogaga, a 48-year-old man, was apprehended.

During interrogation, Okeimute confessed that on the night of September 8, 2024, Efe, Okeimute, Sunday, and a 30-year-old herbalist named Lawrence Jo lured Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu, tied him to a stake, and beheaded him.

The body was discarded in the river, and the head was buried at a shrine by the herbalist.

In a shocking revelation, Efe explained that the motive behind the murder was financial.

He had convinced Paulinus to invest N30 million in a property he claimed was for sale, but instead of using the money to purchase the house, Efe used it for personal gain, buying land and constructing a duplex.

Fearing Paulinus would find out, Efe decided to murder him to avoid the consequences of his actions.

Following the confession, police recovered Paulinus’ skull from the shrine in Otokutu. Efe and the other suspects are now in custody.

The case has sparked widespread outrage, with local activist Mr. Israel Joe bringing attention to the crime on social media.

Joe, who has been advocating for justice, revealed that Paulinus had been running a successful boutique business in the Otokutu area before his tragic death.

In his social media posts, Joe emphasized the need for justice for Paulinus’ family, calling attention to the betrayal by a close friend and the extortion that continued even after the beheading.

A viral video from Joe also featured a man recounting previous attempts on Paulinus’ life, adding to the chilling nature of the crime.

Google search engine

UniAbuja Professors Protest VC Selection Process, Channels TV Crew Harassed By Security

Professors at the University of Abuja have staged a protest against the process used to select the new vice-chancellor of the institution.

The protest is a response to concerns over the transparency and fairness of the selection procedure following the departure of Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah on July 1.

During the coverage of the protest, a Channels Television crew was reportedly harassed by security personnel on the university campus.

The crew was detained for over an hour, and their vehicle was damaged by the security agents.

The university has been at the center of controversy regarding the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.

The selection process is under scrutiny, with accusations that the governing council, in collaboration with certain staff members, is trying to impose Aisha Maikudi as the new VC.

Critics argue that Maikudi does not meet the qualifications outlined in the initial criteria for the position.

Google search engine

Edo Governor Swears In Acting Council Chairmen Despite Federal Govt Directive On Autonomy

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, along with the State House of Assembly, has sworn in acting chairmen for the 18 local government areas of the state, defying federal directives on local government autonomy.

Despite the federal government’s stance on local government autonomy, which mandates financial and administrative independence for councils, the Edo State government proceeded with the swearing-in of the legislative leaders of the councils as acting chairmen.

The event took place on Monday, amidst rising tensions in the state.

This move led to confusion within the councils, as the newly appointed acting chairmen, with the support of political thugs, prevented the elected chairmen from resuming their duties at the local council secretariats.

The appointed acting chairmen took control of the councils’ affairs, further escalating the situation.

The controversy stems from the recent suspension of the elected local government chairmen and their deputies by the Edo State House of Assembly.

The suspension followed a letter from the governor, accusing the chairmen and their deputies of insubordination.

In response, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s stance on the financial autonomy of local governments, declaring that governors and state legislatures do not have the authority to suspend or remove elected local government officials.

According to Fagbemi, only the local government councillors have the legal right to make such decisions.

However, the Edo State government defended the suspension, arguing that it was part of an earlier directive for the legislative leaders to step in and fill the leadership vacuum created by the suspension of the local council chairmen.

On the same day, it emerged that the legislative leaders of all 18 local councils were sworn in as acting chairmen, despite a court injunction issued by the Benin High Court, which had barred the Assembly from suspending the elected chairmen until the court determined their case.

The injunction, granted by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, had restrained the Assembly from carrying out the suspension.

The takeover by the acting chairmen occurred without interference, as it was reported that the suspended chairmen had failed to include the Assembly in their legal suit.

A government source confirmed that the state administration had earlier directed the chairmen to hand over control of their councils to the legislative leaders.

Google search engine

Enugu LG Election Tribunal Affirms Victory Of PDP Candidate, Dismisses Labour Party’s Petition For Lacking In Merit

The Enugu State Local Government  Election Petitions Tribunal has upheld the victory of Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo as the Executive Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area.

The tribunal, sitting in Enugu, dismissed the petition filed by Hon. Cajetan Aganigbo of the Labour Party, stating that it lacked merit and was inconsequential.

DAILY GAZETTE earlier reported that the Labour Party and its chairmanship candidate for Awgu Local Government Area in the September 2024 Enugu local government elections, had filed a suit against Hon. Okolo, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) at the Local Government Council Election Tribunal, seeking the cancellation of the election.

In petition number EPT/02/2024, the petitioners claimed that the PDP candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes cast during the election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

Counsel for the petitioners, Chief Sir O.A.U. Onyema, argued that the results announced by ENSIEC were inaccurate, as the PDP candidate did not receive any valid votes.

He maintained that ENSIEC wrongfully declared Hon. Okolo the winner based on erroneous recorded votes.

The petitioners also alleged that the election was marred by irregularities, including over-voting, non-compliance with electoral guidelines, and manipulation of results in favor of the PDP candidate.

They sought an order of the tribunal declaring Hon. Okolo unqualified to contest for the chairmanship position.

DAILY GAZETTE correspondent, who was in court, reports that counsel to the respondents argued that the petitioners had no proof to establish their claims and asked the tribunal to dismiss their petition for being vague, nebulous, vexatious, generic, and an academic exercise.

In its ruling, the three-man tribunal agreed with the position of the respondents, emphasizing that the petition lacked legal grounds and declared it null and void.

The court however did not award costs.

Google search engine

Gov. Soludo Annuls Anambra Monarch Election, Orders Arrests Of Anyone Parading As Traditional Ruler Until Proper Election Is Held

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has annulled the recent election for the traditional ruler of Oba Community in the Idemili South Local Government Area.

He instructed the state police to arrest anyone claiming to be the community’s new monarch, as no legitimate election had taken place.

Governor Soludo emphasized that any actions or decisions made regarding the selection of a new Igwe were unlawful and criminal.

The state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Town Union Affairs, Chief Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, who spoke on behalf of the governor, clarified that a legal case is currently pending regarding the selection of a new traditional ruler for Oba.

Soludo further stated that until the court matter is resolved, the community will remain without a monarch.

Google search engine

Wife Of Deposed Syrian President Files For Divorce, Seeks Relocation To London

Asma al-Assad, the wife of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly filed for divorce and is seeking to relocate to London.

Sources from Turkish and Arab media, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, indicate that Asma has submitted her divorce petition to a Russian court and is now awaiting approval to move to the UK.

Asma, who holds dual British-Syrian citizenship, spent much of her early life in London with her Syrian parents before moving to Syria in 2000, where she married Bashar al-Assad that same year.

The couple had met while Assad was studying in London, and Asma was working at JP Morgan.

In recent years, Asma has battled serious health issues, including two cancer diagnoses. She was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2024, having previously overcome breast cancer in 2019.

The reports of her divorce filing coincide with challenges faced by Bashar al-Assad, who is currently living under asylum in Russia.

He is reportedly prohibited from leaving Moscow or engaging in political activities, while Russian authorities have frozen his assets, which are said to include 270 kilograms of gold, $2 billion, and 18 apartments in Moscow.

The al-Assad regime, led by Bashar for over six decades, was ousted by rebel forces in early December under the leadership of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Google search engine

Tinubu Rejects Calls To Downsize Cabinet, Insists On Petrol Subsidy Removal

President Bola Tinubu has defended his decision to remove the petrol subsidy in May 2023, insisting that the move was necessary for Nigeria’s future.

Speaking to reporters during a media chat at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, Tinubu expressed no regrets over the controversial decision, arguing that the country could no longer continue subsidizing petrol for neighboring nations.

“I don’t have any regrets whatsoever about removing the petrol subsidy. We were deceiving ourselves; reform was essential,” the president stated.

He highlighted that the removal of the subsidy had intensified competition within the sector, leading to a gradual reduction in petrol prices.

“The market is becoming saturated, there’s no monopoly, no oligopoly, just a free market economy,” he added.

Tinubu also emphasized his belief in a free-market economy, rejecting the notion of price controls.

“I don’t believe in price control. We will work hard to supply the market,” he remarked.

The president’s comments come amid ongoing economic challenges in Nigeria, which is grappling with energy issues, including non-operational refineries and reliance on imported refined petroleum.

Since the subsidy removal, petrol prices have surged, exacerbating the country’s inflation and increasing the cost of living, particularly for citizens relying on petrol for transportation and electricity generation.

Additionally, President Tinubu addressed criticism regarding his cabinet size, stating that he has no plans to reduce the number of ministers.

“I am not ready to shrink my cabinet,” he affirmed. Despite calls for a smaller cabinet, Tinubu justified the size by stressing the need for efficiency in governance.

“Efficiency has been at the core of my selection of ministers,” he explained.

Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after taking office, and while there have been calls for a reshuffle due to dissatisfaction with some ministers’ performances, he has made some adjustments.

In October 2024, he re-assigned 10 ministers to new portfolios, appointed seven new ministers, and dismissed five, though critics continue to argue that the cabinet remains too large.

Google search engine

NEMA Receives 392 Nigerian Returnees From Niger

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has successfully received the second batch of Nigerian returnees from Niger at the Immigration Training School on Airport Road in Kano.

In a statement issued on Monday, NEMA revealed that the group of 392 returnees arrived at around 3:05 PM.

Upon their arrival, the individuals were promptly profiled and registered to facilitate proper documentation and the provision of necessary support.

The returnees included 176 adult males, 122 adult females, and 94 children, comprising 78 boys and 16 girls, according to NEMA.

The event saw active participation from key partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigerian Immigration Services, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

Google search engine

MOST COMMENTED

- Advertisement -
Google search engine