Category: News

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima arrived at the Election Presidential Tribunal on Wednesday.

Judgment on three petitions filed by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, contesting the election of President Bola Tinubu, will be delivered today.

Wednesday’s judgment will be delivered by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by other members of the panel-Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed.

Also, the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; and Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule; Ekiti state governor, Abiodun Oyebanji; Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello; former governor of Yobe; Mala Buni; and Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma are among other APC chieftains that arrived at the courtroom to witness the presidential judgment.

Details later…

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday, disclosed the readiness of the newly-created ministry to develop infrastructure in lake and coastal facing towns and cities across the country to further attract tourists to waters for maximum revenue generation.

Oyetola also reiterated the commitment of his ministry to strengthen Public Private Partnership arrangement, in order to abolish undue charge on crude oil exportation, and to put an end to the menace of Charter Vessel.

He also called for the need to invest in the fishing sector since most of the shrimps that are imported into the country are gotten from the nation’s waters.

The erstwhile Osun State Governor stated these during his working visit to one of the agencies under his ministry, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) office in Lagos, in continuation of his tour of the agencies under the ministry.

Interacting with the management and staff of the agency, Oyetola noted that no effort would be spared to properly harness the nation’s maritime potential, increase revenue generation and stem the tide of capital flight in the sector.

The minister expressed satisfaction with NIMASA’s Modular Floating Dock, which, according to him, will further help generate employment for Nigerians.

Oyetola, who decried the rates for Charter Vessels that carry crude, said the time has come to ensure stakeholders’ buy-in as the nation needs national carrier, especially through a PPP arrangement to overcome the challenge.

He said: “I am particularly interested in the NIMASA Modular Floating Dock because of its potential to generate employment and stem capital flight.

“But we must find a way of ensuring stakeholders’ buy-in, in whatever we do so that we are seen to be working together for the growth and development of Nigeria.

“Similarly, I am convinced we need a national carrier, especially through a PPP arrangement. We are about the only country that is an OPEC member that still charters vessels to carry our crude where 30 per cent of the charge goes to freight. We must find a way around it.

“Again, what most Nigerians do not know is that most of the shrimps that are imported into our country are gotten from our waters. Therefore, it is now time to put an end to it by getting involved.

“I have been to Barbados before; I knew how much we paid just for coastal tourism. Here in Nigeria, we also have what it takes to attract tourists to waters. Therefore, we shall be developing the infrastructure in cities and towns that are lake or coastal facing for this purpose.

“According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the fisheries sector contributed 1.09% of the country’s total GDP in the year 2020 and 0.9% in the Q3 of 2021. We are regarded as a net importer of fishery products.

“But we are determined to change the narrative by putting in place measures to make Nigeria a major player in that regard.

“Nigeria makes up about 853 kilometres of the estimated 47,000 kilometres of coastline in Africa. Nigeria has one of the largest wetlands in the world, with its coastal and marine ecosystems covering a total of 70,000 square kilometres.There are countries around the world that rely solely on earnings from the tourism sector.”

While charging members of staff of NIMASA to rededicate themselves to quality service delivery and key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, Oyetola said repositioning the sector was non-negotiable

“Like I told your counterparts at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, we all have a duty to reposition this sector for the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians. We have the potential to grow our economy and create more jobs through this novel ministry. We must put everything to work to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“On our part as a ministry, those challenges that are internal and are affecting your smooth operation shall be looked into with a view to addressing them one after the other. The ones that are external, we shall take them up immediately.

“I have full confidence in your capabilities and dedication, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of NIMASA in shaping the future of our maritime sector. Together, we can build a thriving blue economy that benefits us all,” Oyetola stated.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has taken a swipe at former President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly being “reckless” with the Nigerian economy.

Obasanjo who sat for an interview with TheCable, stated that Buhari was allegedly spending money recklessly and had no understanding of how the economy works.

He said;

“Tinubu said the other day that it was unacceptable that he would spend 90% of revenue to service debts.

I wasn’t spending 90% when I went worldwide to get debt relief. Do you think that anybody would give you debt relief today?

Buhari was spending money recklessly. I know Buhari didn’t understand economics. I put that in my book.

But that he could also be so reckless, I didn’t know. Who would you go to today and ask for a favor?

Tinubu says he has trimmed the number of people attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Is that news? He will meet with Justin Trudeau, and he will meet with Emmanuel Macron. That will not solve any problem.”

The Oyo State House of Assembly has granted the request of Governor Seyi Makinde to access #50billion revolving overdraft for the development of recurrent and capital expenditures in the State.

The approval was sequel to a request letter sent to the Oyo State House of Assemly by Governor Makinde and read at the plenary on Tuesday by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.

Governor Makinde in the letter said “The request is part of the efforts of the present administration towards financing its recurrent expenditure which includes salary and conventions, capital expenditure and support/finance various contractual obligations. “

The facility is for a period of 45 months at a concessionary rate of 25.1% per annum.

This is subject to review in line with the prevailing money market conditions.

While deliberating on the request, the lawmakers acknowledged the various projects being embarked upon by the State Government across the State.

They said such a facility was inevitable to enable the State Government to meet up with its financial obligations especially in terms of its recurrent and capital expenditures.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, says the judiciary is facing an unprecedented blackmail and intimation over the presidential election petitions, saying that the blackmail is not necessary since there is still opportunity for an appeal at the Supreme Court.

Falana, who spoke to Newsmen, on Monday, said there is no election petition that has attracted such attention in the country since colonial rule.

“We have been having election petitions since the colonial era, but none has attracted such level of blackmail and intimidation of the judiciary.

“I am worried that people give the impression that everything ends with the judgement of the Court of Appeal, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Any party that loses on Wednesday still has the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court. So, what is the basis for the cheap blackmail that is going on?” the senior lawyer queried.

The senior advocate blamed the blackmail and intimidation on new voters whom he said have the belief that their candidate must be declared as the winner, saying that it is not what election tribunals are all about.

He said it is for the justices to look at the evidence adduced by the parties, apply the law and give a decision.

“As they say, even if the heavens will fall and the heavens won’t fall anyway, the judges must not be intimidated, they must give their decision regardless of blackmail or intimidations convinced that they can justify their judgment.

“That is what is required of them, to examine the evidence, apply the law and deliver a decision. One way or the other, some will lose, some will win; but those who lose in the case and are aggrieved will have another opportunity to approach the Supreme Court and demonstrate how the Court of Appeal has erred,” Falana maintained.

MAGIC FM reported that the Court of Appeal on Monday confirmed that it will deliver judgement on the presidential election petitions on Wednesday, adding that the proceedings will be open to live broadcast by interested television stations.

The Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), as well as their presidential candidates, had petitioned the tribunal seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

Governor Sanwo-Olu joined members of his officials to ride the blue rail line which began operations in Lagos State today.

Sanwo-Olu after the test run of the blue rail line was quoted in a statement made available to newsmen as read in part:

“We began commercial operations for the long-awaited Blue Line Rail from Marina to Mile 2 as we put #LagosOnTrack together.

“With a starting 50% discount on all public transport fares with the Cowry Card, we are ensuring that Lagosians can move freely in pursuit of economic and leisure activities

“The Blue Line Rail is equipped with state-of-the-art security features, including 300+ CCTV cameras and command centres at all stations as well as an independent power plant that ensures the trains can have uninterrupted movement.

“We are starting partial passenger operations from 6:30-10am and 4-9:30pm. We’re kicking off with 12 trips for 2 weeks, gradually increasing to 76 trips/day.

“Remember, this is YOUR project, Lagos. Let’s use it responsibly and with pride. There is no room for vandalism or disturbances.

“The Blue Line Rail is one of the rail projects designed to make Lagos a fully interconnected city and it will transform our city’s transport system.

“We remain committed to transforming every area of our great state”.

Six persons have been confirmed dead in a multiple road accident on Saturday morning at Imesi-Ile.

This was made known in a First Information Report, FIR, by the spokesperson of the Osun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Agnes Ogungbemi, on behalf of the Sector Commander, Henry Benemaisia.

According to the report, the crash occurred along Imesi-Ile Hill due to brake failure and loss of control.

It involved two vehicles; a red-coloured DAF commercial trailer and a blue-coloured MACK commercial trailer, which had no registration numbers.

A total number of 17 male adults were involved in the crash, and 11 sustained varying degrees of injuries.

According to the report, “Recovered items, victims properties were taken by the personnel of the Nigerian Police to their station in Imesi-Ile.

“Five dead victims were taken to UniOsun Teaching Hospital Osogbo by the police personnel attached to Imesi-Ile Police Division before the arrival of FRSC team.

“One dead male victim was trapped under the truck and the FRSC team employed the extricating machine in order to removed the trapped body from under the vehicle.”

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that the kidnapped farm manager, Olayinka Folarin Adewale who was kidnapped at Irede Farm, along Igbooga Village, Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government of Oyo State has finally regained freedom.

It was gathered that the 38-year-old farm manager regained freedom yesterday night after a ransom has been paid to the abductors.

A family source who spoke to ODUDUWA NEWS under the condition of anonymity revealed that between Two to Three Million Naira was paid to the kidnappers before they released the him.

Recall, Folarin was abducted last week Thursday at exactly 4pm while he was supervising activities in the farm.

The kidnappers who stormed his farm on Thursday shot sporadically and exchanged firepower with security guard manning the farm before they eventually overpowered him by inflicting injuries on his head which eventually paved way for them to succeed in kidnapping the farm manager.

The security guard identified as Alaarabon was later taken to nearest hospital but he could not be saved as he was eventually declared dead.

Our Correspondent reached out to the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adewale Osifeso on the incident but he neither responded nor gave hint of the action of the Police to rescue the victim.

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has predicted the possibility of Naira bouncing back and this time greater than the United States dollar.

Adeboye gave this prediction during the Church’s monthly thanksgiving service on Sunday, monitored by our correspondent with the September theme; ‘Uncommon Miracles’.

According to the revered Clergy, there was a period when Naira, competed favourably with United States dollars.

He said, “The days when Naira will be stronger will come back; those glorious days will return when that happens you will know.”

He explained how God granted him usual testimonies, some of which many people couldn’t believe.

“Miracle is totally unusual. God can give you a miracle that will be difficult to share,” Adeboye added.

The Nigeria Police Force is worried over the discovery of gas pistol( Spyder Victor) recovered from a robbery gang in Lagos.

The gun, the first of its kind in Nigeria, was recovered from a suspected robber on Eko Bridge.

The police said they were still studying the gun to know how it came into the country, and why the gang decided to go for the make.

Unfortunately, the prime suspect, who his gang members claimed that only him could say the source of the gun and why he decided to go for the kind, escaped arrest by jumping into the Lagos Lagoon.

The police are currently searching for the suspect whether dead or alive.

The gang member whose gun was recovered in his possession, told the police at the command headquarters, Ikeja, while he was being paraded among other suspects, that the prime suspect abandoned the gas pistol and jumped inside the lagoon.

The suspect claimed that he didn’t know anything about the source of the gas gun only the prime suspect that could say the source of the gun to the police.

According to police investigator, the police would do everything possible to get to the root of the matter.

Lagos State Commissioner, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa,who paraded the suspect and other suspects , described the gun,as a unique gun, Spyder Victor, “we will get to the root of the mater.They were two suspects ,but one jumped to death into the Lagoon from the Eko Bridge”.

The CP said, he had never seen such a gun since he joined the force.