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Amaechi Muonagor, a veteran actor, has asked sympathetic Nigerians for financial assistance to undergo a kidney transplant in India.


In a widely circulated film, the experienced actor was seen lying on a bed, apparently distressed, as he frantically asked help to alleviate his medical condition.


His colleague, Kingsley Orji, who sat alongside him, filed an appeal on his behalf.


Orji revealed that Amaechi Muonagor left the teaching hospital a few days ago due to financial constraints.


He informed that the illness had affected his speech, imploring fans and well wishers to contribute for a transplant surgery.


He said: “It has not been easy. He has been in this condition for months now. He wants to go for a kidney transplant. What we want is for you to help us for him to travel to India,” Orji said.


“He just came back from the ICU in Nnewi teaching hospital a couple of days ago. He was responding to treatment but not very well.


“We decided to bring him home because there was no money but it is not advisable. He barely talks well. Please, he needs your help.”

 

Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.) has stated how 16 military personnel were assassinated last Thursday in Delta State’s Okuama town in Ughelli South.


Esekhaigbe claimed that the unsuspecting soldiers were ambushed by locals.


He revealed this during his appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast show on Monday.


On Thursday, 16 Nigerian soldiers were murdered while on a mission to quell hostilities between two villages in the South-South state of Delta.


According to Defence Headquarters, the personnel consisted of two Majors, one Captain, and twelve soldiers.


According to a statement by the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, the troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion were deployed in the Bomadi region and were on a peace-keeping mission in the Okuoma community when they were killed on Thursday.


The killings have been condemned by many stakeholders with President Bola Tinubu vowing that the perpetrators will not go unpunished.


Reacting to the killings, Esekhaigbe said the soldiers were in the coastal community to find out why their colleagues who were on a peacekeeping mission to the village were held hostage and not to fight.


He added that the soldiers would not have been killed if they had been prepared.


He said, “It is unfortunate that we have spent a lot of money on a thing we called amnesty programme which was designed for those militia groups to lay down their weapons.


“If after the amnesty and the purported surrendering of weapons, we still have local communities that have sophisticated weapons like this, it calls for a re-examination of the entire process.


“Now, don’t forget you called it a peace mission, the mindset of these officers and men was to go and find out what the problems were and to find out why their men were kept behind. So, their mind was not to go and fight and that is what we must understand. So, they were not going with the mentality of going for an attack, if they, even as few as they were, they would not have been able to surround and dastardly murder them the way they did.


“So, what played out here is that they fell into an ambush because these militia groups have sophisticated weapons and when you are ambushed, no matter how sophisticated you are, you will definitely have the consequences of an ambush. That calls to mind the need for training and retraining because you must know the local environment in which you are operating.”


Speaking on the insecurity in the state, Esekhaigbe listed the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, drug abuse and lack of governance as contributory factors.


He, however, called for the rejig of the institutions rather than just renaming them.


“We have what we call institutional failure in all sectors. Let me tell you the contributory factors of this insecurity that is everywhere, one is the proliferation of small arms and light weapons all over the place.


“Two is the menace of drug abuse, and three is the lack of governance in this state. I heard they have small arms and light weapons centre domiciled in the NSA office. what are they bringing on board? You don’t domicile something and just be in an office like that. they are supposed to go out and retrieve these arms.


“We must rejig our institutions not just by giving them names and domiciling them somewhere. Two, what is the National Orientation Agency doing if not to re-orientate our psyche? This hatred and unnecessary and unwanted killing of people without any meaningful reason should be duly addressed.


“Three, some of these governors have humongous security votes. What do you do with this humongous security vote if the lives of your community are the community is continuously threatened and communal clashes abound everywhere without a meaningful response from the government? Let’s get serious.”


 

The Nigerian Army raided the Igbomotoru hamlet in Bayelsa State’s Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, destroying houses and allegedly killing approximately 11 persons.


The action follows the massacre of 16 soldiers and officers in Delta State’s Okuama Community last week.


Soldiers in five gunboats reportedly invaded the community, razing houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader said to be involved in the killing of the military men who were on a rescue mission in Delta.


Platinum Times reports that an Army Commander, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers of 181 Amphibious Battalion in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta were killed in Okuama community.


The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had ordered an immediate investigation and arrest of the culprits.


Days after the order, it was gathered that some residents of Okuama community fled to neighboring Ughelli for fear of reprisal by soldiers.


The soldiers had during the weekend burnt several houses in Okuama, before storming neighboring communities in Bayelsa in pursuit of those involved in the killing.


According to Daily Trust, a source said immediately the troops stormed the Bayelsa community, they opened fire on some residents relaxing at the jetty before proceeding to set ablaze three buildings suspected to be the hideout of the said militant leader.


He said the community had been able to recover 11 corpses from the attack, while still searching for others as at the time of filing this report.


“The military invasion has affected the people gravely. Lives have been lost, properties have been destroyed. Even after the attack, I am sure that life in the community will never be the same.


“This weekend was scheduled for the burial of one of my late uncles. We had paid for food, drinks, music, speedboat and canopies. And now because of this, the burial can no longer hold.


“In fact some of the people we paid money to are saying that if the date changes, we would have to pay extra money. Is that not a huge loss on its own? So we would have to start looking for more money, that is if there will ever be peace in the community.


“I am appealing to the Federal and State Government to as a matter of urgency intervene in this matter. We do not have a hand in whatever transpired in Delta State. The international community should come to our aid,” the source said.


When contacted via telephone call, the spokesman for Operation Delta Safe, OPDS headquarters, Major Adenegan Ojo, hung up the call after hearing it was a journalist who called.


He, however, did not answer subsequent phone calls.

Zubaida Umar is the new Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She succeeds Mustapha Habib Ahmed who has held the office since May 31, 2021.


We gathered some interesting things about Zubaida Umar for you to read.

Zubaida Umar is a native of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.


Umar is an alumna of renowned institutions such as the Robert Gordon University Business School in Scotland, where she earned an MSc in International Trade, and Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where she obtained a BSc in Business Administration.


Umar was the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).


Umar earlier served at the Debt Management Office (DMO) from 2001 to 2006.


Umar is the first female Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).


Platinumpostng.com

Umar is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Credit Administration, and holds ACCA certifications in Public Financial Management and Digital and Sustainability Financing.

A former senatorial candidate in Anambra Central Senatorial District, Hon. Dr. (Chief) Jim Okolo Chimezie has bagged appointment as International Elections Diplomat by the United Nations. 


His appointment came after an intensive training which took place in the Republic of Benin. 


Along with others from within West African sub-region, they were certified and appointed on the mission after the training which covers general information on electoral observation, legal framework for AU electoral observation missions, electoral process and security of electoral processes. 

Others include, mission and role of an electoral expert, documents and tools for electoral experts, writing and public presentation of an electoral observation report, objectives of an electoral observation report and more. 


In his remarks, the businessman expressed gratitude to the UN for the opportunity to serve humanity in this capacity, describing it as a lifetime opportunity. 


He assured that he would make use of the opportunity in contributing to strengthening electoral jurisprudence in Africa. 


He has since commenced processes to ensure that such training is replicated in Nigeria for an enhanced observation missions. 

Chief Chimezie, the West African Coordinator of Universal Migration Enlightenment Centre (UMEC) was recently appointed and inducted as United Nations Mayor for World Peace. 


His induction took place recently at an event to make the World Peace Day in Lagos, Nigeria. 


The event which had as the theme, "Action For Peace: Our Ambition for Sustainable Peace In Lagos State Communities" also featured the unveiling of Peace Alive Initiative in Lagos.

Video:




President Bola Tinubu met with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Edo state branch at the State House in Abuja.


The meeting, attended by the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Hon Dennis Idahosa, was intended to resolve certain differences.


The President also handed over the party’s flag to the Governorship candidate and his running mate.


Mr Idahosa is also anticipated to abandon his protest litigation against Okpebholo’s candidacy as part of the prior resolutions to address the impasse surrounding the Edo State Governorship primary.


The primary election that eventually produced Okpebholo as a candidate sparked controversy when Idahosa was declared by a commission led by Governor Hope Uzodinma.


The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) deemed the first round of primaries inconclusive due to a number of violations.


The meeting, conducted in the President’s office, was attended by the APC’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District; and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, a former representative of Edo South in the Senate.

A woman named Imade reportedly slumped and died while singing on the altar at Living Messiah Church in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State.


The catastrophe occurred on Sunday, March 17, 2024.


Details of the incident are still vague at the time of reporting this story, however it was learned that Imade was brought to Alero hospital in Owa, where she was pronounced dead by medics on duty.

A 26-year-old man is charged with murder and other crimes after reportedly killing three people, including his 13-year-old sister, in two separate residences in Pennsylvania before carjacking a motorist and fleeing to New Jersey.


In Pennsylvania, Andre Gordon is facing murder, burglary, and assault charges, along with many additional criminal offenses relating to the shootings, according to court records.


Gordon is accused of killing the three people in Falls Township on Saturday morning, according to authorities, before crossing state lines where he was eventually arrested. He carried out the attacks with an “AR-15 style assault rifle,” Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said.


Gordon was arrested two blocks away from the home in which police thought he was barricaded in, Trenton mayor Reed Gusciora said, adding the suspect did not have any weapons when he was arrested and cooperated with police. Gusciora said he felt “really grateful” after Gordon’s arrest.


In addition to the Pennsylvania charges, Gordon faces seven charges in New Jersey, according to a news release from the office of state Attorney General Matthew Platkin, including first-degree carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, among others.


“The string of violent acts that took place yesterday, allegedly at the hands of a single armed individual, alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties,” Platkin said. “It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake.”


Here’s what we know about the killings and the investigation so far:


Timeline of crime spree


Just before 9 a.m., Falls Township Police said officers were called to investigate a reported shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, Pennsylvania.


Gordon, who was driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, fatally shot his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon in their home, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said at a Saturday afternoon news conference. Three other family members who were in the home, including one minor, successfully hid from Gordon during the attack, according to Schorn.


The three family members “were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them,” Schorn said during a news conference.


Minutes later, Gordon drove to Edgewood Lane, where he broke into a home and fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he has two children, Schorn said. Four other people were inside the home, including children and Daniel’s mother, who was injured by Gordon with the assault rifle and is being treated at a hospital, Schorn said.


After the shootings, police say Gordon at about 9:13 a.m. then carjacked a 44-year-old driver at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. The driver was not injured, according to police.


Around 11:38 a.m., the carjacked Honda CRV was found abandoned in Trenton, according to Falls Township Police.


Then around 12:20 p.m., Pennsylvania authorities were notified Gordon was barricaded inside a Trenton home. But the city’s police director said the suspect had actually managed to leave the house at some point before they had established a perimeter. The perimeter had been set up between approximately 10:30 to 11 a.m., according to police.


“The people who were inside the house, they went upstairs. They still felt that he was still in the house. So when they got out of the house on the upstairs window, they told police that he was still downstairs. We couldn’t take any chances, and it was still a great resolution by the area law enforcement,” Gusciora told CNN’s Polo Sandoval at the scene.


They evacuated the house’s residents through an upstairs window, believing him to still be inside. After hours surrounding the house and calling out to the suspect, however, officers say they spotted him walking down a street nearby and took him into custody.


Falls Township Police had earlier said the suspect was “believed to be in possession of an assault rifle which he used to commit these crimes,” and possibly additional weapons.


A shelter-in-place order for Falls Township was lifted after police determined Gordon was in New Jersey. Falls Township is approximately 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The town is close to the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border.


Police now looking for more information


The investigation is ongoing, authorities said. Police officers are still searching the home and the vehicle Gordon allegedly carjacked for the weapon used in Saturday’s shooting, the mayor said. He added the suspect will remain in custody in New Jersey before being extradited to Pennsylvania.


Officers executed a search warrant at the home as they look for the weapon and any other information, Gusciora said. Authorities said they would “investigate every aspect of how he came into possession of these weapons.”


Gordon is “believed to currently be homeless and has ties to the Trenton area,” Schorn said. Police have had “minor contacts” with Gordon in the past, authorities said at the Saturday news conference, without providing further details.


The FBI office in Philadelphia told CNN they are “aware and tracking the incident” and are “working closely with our local partners.”


The Pennsylvania State Police also said they are assisting with the investigation.


Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in an X post on Saturday morning he had been “briefed on the developing incident.”


Gusciora said neighbors are relieved, and the city is working with residents who lived in surrounding duplexes to make sure they have a place to stay after police used tear gas in the area.


“Trentonians stick together. It’s one big family here. There’s a lot of camaraderie and they cooperated fully with the police, and we’re just really grateful for a safe and peaceful outcome,” the mayor said. (CNN)

 

Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has distributed over 3000 food items to vulnerable households and less privileged families in Gusau, Zamfara State.


The donation is a gesture under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative created to reach out to vulnerable persons and reduce the effect of hunger in the society.


Speaking at the event, the bank’s Regional Head, North West 2, Muhammad Ahijo, noted that “The Fidelity Food Bank Initiative is aimed at alleviating the hardship experienced by many in the face of current economic challenges in the country.


His words “At Fidelity Bank, we recognize the importance of supporting and empowering communities to grow and prosper and we believe that by investing in the well-being of the communities where we operate, we contribute to the creation of a better society for all.”


“We firmly believe that by addressing the root causes of poverty and alleviating hunger, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need. And in light of this, Fidelity Bank has donated 3,000 food packs to vulnerable families in the state, to help them get through these tough times.” He stated.


Applauding the initiative by Fidelity Bank, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mukhtar Lugga, noted that “We are grateful for the kind gesture from Fidelity Bank in providing support to vulnerable households and less privileged families in our community. This is coming at a time when people cannot afford a meal before and during the holy month of Ramadan”.


On his part, the Accountant General of Zamfara State, Alhaji Ali-Akilu Muhammad, thanked Fidelity Bank for its generosity and urged other banks operating in the state to emulate the Fidelity Bank gesture by providing succor to the less privileged families in the state.

 

The Police Command in Kano State on Monday warned youths against perpetrating violence during the annual Ramadan Tashe cultural show that usually starts in the middle of the Holy Month.


The Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, sounded the warning during an interactive session with traditional rulers,community leaders, religious authorities and influential youth leaders in the state held at the Police Officers Mess, Miller Road, Bompai, Kano.


The session was part of the command’s efforts to ensure a peaceful Tashe during the current Ramadan fast.


Gumel said proactive security measures had been taken on the build-up towards provision of adequate security during and after the Ramadan period.


He warned those intending to perpetrate violence during the holy period, to desist, as adequate security measures had been deployed at the identified locations, and that stringent strategies would be employed to checkmate the situation.


“We have also reached out to traditional rulers in the affected Local Government Areas in the metropolis to preach peace among the youth participating in the Tashe practice to desist from any act capable of bringing confusion during and after the Ramadan period.


“We have taken concrete security measures to deal with any person or group of people that take advantage of promoting Tashe culture to perpetuate insecurity during the last part of Ramadan days.


“Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) are also directed to identify and reach out to prominent people /youths that organize Tashe and to beam the necessary searchlight against any form of violence in the state,”Gumel said.


Furthermore, he said, the Command had increased surveillance and patrols in the identified areas where youth tended to exploit Tashe culture to promote nefarious activities.


He said the Command’s intelligence units had also increased vigilance for collecting and putting into action relevant information to preempt likely emerging security threats.


“These proactive approaches are to allow the Police Command to adequately and swiftly respond to all early warning signs of potential insecurity and maintain the peace and order during and after the Ramadan period.


“Moving forward, the Police Command has invited some community leaders, religious authorities, and influential youth leaders and discussed with them on how best to surmount the issue of specifically the youth that take advantage, instead of promoting the Tashe tradition, to perpetuate insecurity.


The commissioner said by implementing the newly-developed whole security measures and engaging with relevant stakeholders, the command was confident of surmounting the challenges posed by those category of youths that might exploit the Tashe culture and unleash violence during the fasting period.


“Ultimately, our goal is to create a secure and harmonious atmosphere for all residents of Kano State during the month of Ramadan and beyond,” he added.


During the occasion also,sixty three officers of the command were decorated with their new ranks of Superintendents of Police (SPs).


Our Correspondent explains that Tashe is an Hausa cultural show staged during the Ramadan period where people, especially young men and women, dramatize certain Hausa cultural norms so as to make onlookers laugh.


The show also includes making jest of divorcees, big-time bachelors and spinsters indicating how they undergo inconveniences to observe the Ramadan fast without spouses who will render to them such services as cooking and other conjugal supports.

Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, says the Federal Government, FG, has allocated N12.7 billion to provide meters in Army barracks around the country.


The funding comes from the N40 billion set aside for the bulk metering project.


Mr Bolaji Tunji, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.


He cited the minister as saying this during the flag-off of the metering exercise at the Nigerian Army’s 9th Brigade Headquarters in Ikeja Military Cantonment.


He stated that the exercise would be divided into phases, with the Ikeja cantonment serving as the first.


He stated that the present workout will endure for six weeks before the second phase begins.


“Mass metering in army formations nationwide will enable us to know what is being consumed on a monthly basis to ensure appropriate billings and ease collections.


”The overall intention is to eliminate and make estimated billing a thing of the past,” the Minister said, indicating that the current exercise is part of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda to ensure regular supply of electricity to army formations nationwide.


“This is one of Mr President’s objectives as contained in the renewed hope agenda to ensure that electricity supply to the armed forces is prioritised and they do not suffer, especially in the enjoyment of public utilities,” he said.


Adelabu said the smart meters being installed are tamper-proof and would eliminate energy theft.

He said that it would be difficult to by-pass the meter which also comes with an app where customers can get statements of their consumption on a monthly basis.


He said that the meter allows interconnectivity between the grid and off-grid solar power supply.


The minister said that part of the energy blueprint for the country was also to build off-grid power sources such as solar energy for military barracks located in remote areas without grid supply.


He said that where there is grid supply, there would be an interchange between the grid and solar supply if not satisfied with the number of hours supplied by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).


”Beyond metering, we have to prioritise electricity supply to the barracks,” he said.


Adelabu said the metering project would be extended to all military formations in the country with the objective of providing 24-hour power supply to the barracks.


Also speaking, Mr Ashade Olatunbosun, Chief Executive Officer of De Haryor Global Services, said that the second phase of the project would begin in Abuja and Enugu, simultaneously.


He said that military formations across the 11 DisCos would benefit from the exercise.


“Army formations in Jos, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Ikeja, and Eko DisCos will benefit from the exercise,” he said.


Speaking earlier, Maj.-Gen. A Adetuyi, Commander, 9th Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja, said that the Federal Government metering initiative was timely as the brigade headquarters has been getting epileptic power supply over time.


Adetuyi said that on investigation, he found out that the brigade was only being given three hours of electricity daily and on some days they did not even get supplies.


”We have tried to resolve this and we have even involved the state government without any result.


”We also discovered that we were always being given estimated bills, though we would not have minded if power supply was regular,” he said.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to supply the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with comprehensive data or information about all Nigerian traders on its platform.


Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim injunction after ruling on the ex-parte request filed by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.


“The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February, 2024, is hereby granted as prayed.


“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform,” the judge ordered.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the interim order was granted to enable the anti-graft agency unravel the alleged money laundering and terrorism financing on Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.


A certified true copy of the ruling, which was delivered on Feb. 29, was sighted by NAN on Monday.


The ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/259/2024, was brought pursuant to Sections 6(b), (h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended) and the inherent powers of the court.


In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Hamma Bello, an operative of the EFCC, he said he was attached to the Special Investigation Team, SIT, of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.


Mr Bello averred that, following the inauguration of the Technical Committee on Currency Stability and Forex Manipulation by the ONSA, the SIT “received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.


“That on receipt of the Intelligence, the team began investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.


“That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.


“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.


“That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 (twenty one billion, six hundred million dollars).


“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others.


“That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time.”


Mr Bello, who said that the matter was of utmost urgent public interest, said the data provided would enable the commission accomplish its investigation activities.


He said it was in the interest of justice to grant the application as refusal of the request would largely hamper the commission’s investigation.


Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange that lists more than 350 cryptocurrencies globally.


In addition to cryptocurrency trading, it offers several services that enhance the experience for users and blockchain developers.


(NAN)

Eight directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who worked closely with the former governor, Godwin Emefiele, have received early retirement letters.


The current Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Yemi Cardoso, authorized the action.


The directors, some of whom were initially redeployed to an arm of the bank, FSS 2020 under the Governor’s Directorate, whose office is located in the Maitama District of Abuja since November 24th, 2023, and kept in a sort of pool to await “further directives,” are being asked to leave the CBN.


Sources say that some of the directors had already been served the disengagement letters since Friday, but could not state clearly under what terms were those affected disengaged.


“We don’t know whether they were given early retirement or their appointments were terminated outright”, a source told DailyTrust on the condition of anonymity.


Although sources could not confirm if those being served early retirement letters have been found guilty of any offences, they said main reason for the sack of the affected officials, according to most of our sources, was “because they had worked very closely with the immediate past governor of the bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele”.



The decision has raised great concern amongst staff of the CBN, who fear that it could be a prelude to more layoffs by the current management.


Recall that the CBN had relocated no fewer than 150 staff of the Banking Supervision Department (BSD), which is one of the 29 departments of the bank to Lagos.


The move had generated mixed reactions across the country, with many alleging that it was an attempt to dislodge staff who are northerners from the institution.


But the CBN dismissed those insinuations, insisting that it was part of a proper reorganisation of the bank, to ensure that the regular onsite examination of the 24 banks in the country were diligently carried out, since most of those national and regional banks are headquartered in Lagos.


It also adduced as part of the reason for the relocation, the desire to de-congest the corporate headquarters of the bank.


It was widely alleged that many politicians had abused their privileges during the Buhari Administration to secure appointments for their children and relations in the CBN.


Meanwhile, some of the directors affected in the latest action of the current management of the CBN have threatened to challenge the decision, while others have said they will accept the sack as the CBN has become a ‘poisonous working environment.’

 

The Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) will announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa as its deputy governorship candidate today, after weeks of power struggles and ego trips by party officials in selecting Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party’s running mate.


It has been discovered that Abuja would host the event.


Idahosa’s selection is said to have been made following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention at a meeting with Edo APC leaders and stakeholders.


Upon being approached, the APC’s acting state chairman did not provide a name. claimed that, however, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) would be defeated by the youngest ticket.


He said, “Our choice of running mate emanated from the people and we are going to unveil him tomorrow (Monday) in Abuja. It will be the youngest ticket ever in the history of Edo State and that is what we will use to defeat the other parties. We are not like them that are producing much older people to govern the state. We are going to produce a young team,” he said.


Idahosa who is challenging the outcome of the party primary election in the court claimed that he won it and that the supplementary one was illegal.


It was gathered that after Tinubu’s intervention, it was agreed that Idahosa would withdraw his case from the court once all the processes were concluded.


A credible party source said, “It has been a difficult issue for over one week, especially after Idahosa went to court. The leadership of the party in Abuja had to wade into the issue. There have been so many interests at play. Ego was also involved as there were some leaders of the party who saw the primary as an opportunity to get at a leader of the party. They even threatened to publicly denounce the party and work against it if Idahosa is chosen.


“The president intervened and I believe that was what calmed nerves and I hope that all of them will respect and honour the wish of the president,” he said.

On Saturday, gunmen suspected of being cultists shot and killed George Sopruchi, a printer, on Abakiliki Street in the Mile 1 district of Diobu in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state.


According to reports, the gunmen followed their target to Abakiliki near Emenike Street at 8.30 p.m. and shot him dead while he was speaking with someone.


The incident occurred approximately 72 hours after a suspected cultist shot a guy dead in the Nanka/Lumuber neighborhood of Diobu, sending cold shivers down the spines of many locals in the area.


According to an eyewitness, the gunmen carted away his motorcycle and one of his mobile phones. Onlookers rushed to the scene as soon as the assailants fled and rushed the victim to the hospital. Unfortunately, he had passed away.


The eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “It was just like what happened three days ago when some cult boys trailed a man to Nanka/Lumumba who went to buy noodles and shot him dead.


“What is happening in Diobu is becoming scary. Let the police be up and doing so that people can sleep with their two eyes closed here.”


The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed last Thursday’s killing at Nanka/Lumuber Street, had said investigation was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing culprits.


Efforts to reach on the latest incident proved abortive as she did not answer calls put across to her telephone by our reporter.


She had yet to also reply to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.


 

Vladimir Putin has secured another six-year term as Russian president, exit polls showed Sunday, paving the way for the hardline former spy to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years.


Victory for the 71-year-old was never in doubt, with all his major opponents dead, in prison or exiled, and authorities waging an unrelenting crackdown on those who publicly oppose the Kremlin or its military offensive on Ukraine.


The government-run VTsIOM pollster projected that Putin had sailed to an easy victory with 87 percent of the vote after polls closed in Russia’s western-most region of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea.


The three-day election was marked by a surge in deadly Ukrainian bombardments, incursions into Russian territory by pro-Kyiv sabotage groups and vandalism at polling stations.


The Kremlin had cast the election as moment for Russians to throw their weight behind the full-scale military operation in Ukraine, where voting is also being staged in Russian-controlled territories.


Kyiv and its allies slammed the vote as a sham and President Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out at Putin as a “dictator” who was “drunk from power”.


“There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power,” Zelensky said in a message on social media.


Ukrainian ally Poland said the vote was not “legal, free and fair,” in a statement issued by the foreign ministry.


EU chief Charles Michel had sarcastically congratulated Putin on his “landslide victory” on the first day of polls opening on Friday.


Allies of the late Alexei Navalny — Putin’s most prominent rival, who died in an Arctic prison last month — had urged voters to flood polling stations at noon and spoil their ballots for a “Noon Against Putin” protest.


His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, was greeted by supporters with flowers and applause in Berlin. She said she had written her late husband’s name on her ballot after voting at the Russian embassy.


Some voters in Moscow appeared to heed Navalny’s call, telling AFP they had come to honour his memory and show their opposition in the only legal way possible.


“I came to show that there are many of us, that we exist, that we are not some insignificant minority,” said 19-year-old student Artem Minasyan at a polling station in central Moscow.


Leonid Volkov, a senior aide to the late opposition leader who was recently attacked in Lithuania where he fled political persecution in Russia, dismissed the results published by Moscow.


“The percentages drawn for Putin have, of course, not the slightest relation to reality,” Volkov, Navalny’s former chief of staff wrote on social media.


Former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev meanwhile congratulated Putin on his “splendid victory” long before the final results were due to be announced.


And state-run television praised how Russians and rallied with “colossal support for the president” as well as the “unbelievable consolidation” of the country behind its leader.



Tributes to Navalny

At Navalny’s grave in a Moscow cemetery, AFP reporters saw spoiled ballot papers with his name scrawled across them on a pile of flowers.


Navalny had galvanised mass protests and tried to run against Putin in the 2018 election — touring Russia to drum up support — but his candidacy was rejected.


“We live in a country where we will go to jail if we speak our mind. So when I come to moments like this and see a lot of people, I realise that we are not alone,” said 33-year-old Regina.


There were repeated acts of protest in the first days of polling, with a spate of arrests of Russians accused of pouring dye into ballot boxes or arson attacks.


Any public dissent in Russia has been harshly punished since the start of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and there were repeated warnings from the authorities against election protests.


The OVD-Info police monitoring group announced that at least 80 people had been detained across nearly 20 cities in Russia for protest actions linked to the elections.


A surge in Ukrainian strikes on Russia continued unabated with the Russian defence ministry reporting at least eight regions attacked overnight and on Sunday morning.


Fatal border attacks

Three airports serving the capital briefly suspended operations following the barrage, while a drone attack in the south sparked a fire at an oil refinery.


In Russia’s border region of Belgorod, multiple rounds of shelling killed two — a man and a 16-year-old girl — and wounded 12 more, the region’s governor said Sunday.


Eight more were wounded in other bombardments later as polls were closing, he said.


The governor had already ordered the closure of shopping centres and schools in Belgorod and the surrounding area for two days because of the strikes.


In the Russian-controlled territory of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, where voting is also taking place, “kamikaze drones” set a polling station ablaze, according to the Moscow-installed authorities.


‘Difficult period’


Putin, a former KGB agent, has been in power since the last day of 1999 and is set to extend his grip over the country until at least 2030.


If he completes another Kremlin term, he will have stayed in power longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.


In a pre-election address Putin said Russia was going through a “difficult period” and called on the country to be “united and self-confident.”


A concert on Red Square is being staged on Monday to mark 10 years since Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula — an event that is also expected to serve as a victory celebration for Putin.


AFP

Civil rights Advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa to stop armed soldiers from destroying Okuoma community as a reprisal over the dastardly crime of killing of 16 soldiers.


“We actually thought that the current Chief of Defence Staff would set the good example of being the one in power when the military as an institution puts to an end the use of reprisal and violent revenge against communities whereby soldiers are killed by hoodlums.”


“Unfortunately, our worst fears have happened with reports of soldiers setting on fire all the buildings at Okuoma the crime scene whereby some officers and men of the Army were killed by gangsters.


” The reported extralegal killing of three young men of Okuoma community by soldiers on reprisal mission is absolutely intolerable, reprehensible and primitive and is hereby totally deprecated just as we are calling on the President to call the service chiefs to order so they do not continue to kill civilians upon any provocative attacks on soldiers by gunmen. What the rule of law demands is that those who killed those soldiers are to be arrested, prosecuted and sanctioned.


“But going after the entire community by setting on fire this unlucky community that is also a victim of unwarranted violence, is unconstitutional, illegal and treacherous,” the rights group said.


HURIWA in a statement made available to PlatinumPost by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Sunday, said it gathered from sources in the media that the gunmen wearing military fatigue arrived in the community around 8am and started shooting at anyone in sight, thus leaving three killed while several victims injured are currently receiving treatment in a hospital in the state.


“Besides, HURIWA learnt that troops suspected to be men of the Nigerian Army on Friday, March 15, 2024, while chanting war songs, carried out what could be termed genocide on the innocent citizens of the community by setting their buildings ablaze.


” Another youth from Okuama, who did not want his name in print said, “Our people woke up on Wednesday to see our community surrounded by men in military uniform numbering over 60, and without provocation, they started shooting and caused the death of three promising youths of the community with several others sustaining gunshot injuries.


“The same military men repeated their genocide actions on innocent and law-abiding citizens of the Okuama community on Friday, March 15, 2024, bringing many buildings to rubble. As I speak, the number of persons who died in the barbaric attack cannot be ascertained as many aged men, women and youths fled into the nearby bushes and we suspect that some women and children might have drowned, because many ran into the river out of panic, ” the statement quoted reports on the ugly incident.


Reacting against the backdrops of the alleged reprisal attacks on Okuoma community by soldiers, HURIWA said it is increasingly becoming the practice especially in Southern Nigeria by the Army that whenever their men are killed, the community in which this unfortunate incident occurs, usually come under unwarranted and vicious violence but it is not the same whenever similar killing of soldiers occur in Northern Nigeria.


“HURIWA wants the Army chief of staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja to explain to Nigerians the rational behind carrying out reprisal attacks by soldiers on Southern communities but the same doesn’t occur if soldiers are killed by terrorists in the North.


“We wonder why the discriminatory implementation of the unlawful conduct of carrying out reprisals by the military on the basis of regions. Whilst we do not support reprisals by soldiers, we condemn in a very strong manner the unlawful criminal act of burning down Okuoma community by soldiers on reprisal mission in Delta state.


“Those soldiers who carried out this terrorist attack on this community should be treated also just as those terrorists that shot and killed over one dozen soldiers and senior officers in Okuoma community of Delta State,” the statement added.

 

The Kogi state police command has opened up on the killing of Barrister Elias Ugwu in Alade village, Dekina Local government Area of the state.


The victim had gone to pay ransom for his kidnapped cousin when he ran into a police team that killed him mistakenly.


In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, said Ugwu died in an unfortunate incident.


He said the police tactical team of the command received report from the villagers that some persons were sighted in a bush around Alade Village roaming up and down for two days, causing uproar in the community.


Based on the distress call, Aya said the police swung into action as the villagers emphasised that the “strange people” who were asking for direction were around the place where two vehicles and two motorcycles were abandoned by armed robbers who attacked Anyigba banks a few days earlier.


Recall that some banks were attacked by robbers in Kogi last week.


“The operatives promptly swung into action and in conjunction with the Local Vigilantes moved into the Area.


“When they sighted the car already described by the Villagers, they waved down the driver to stop but instead, he zoomed off. In a bid to stop the Car, shots were fired at the tyres of the Car which brought it to a halt,” the statement read.


On checking, he said it discovered the car conveyed three persons, (the driver and two others); with two men identified as Chidi Anieke and Elias Ugwu (as driver), both of Nkanu and Ihiakpoka, Nsukka in Enugu state.


“The driver (Ugwu) sustained injury and was taken to the Maria Goretti Hospital, Ayingba for treatment where he gave up the ghost,” the statement read.


According to the police, on interrogation, the two surviving men stated that they were in Alade bush for ransom payment to secure the release of a victim of kidnapping.


Equally, the police stated further that the two men did not report or inform the police of the alleged kidnap incident or of their mission in the area.


“Hence they were suspected to be part of the hoodlums that invaded Ayingba on 7Th March, 2024,that led to the said encounter.”


 


(DAILY TRUST)

Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored two late goals to help Chelsea to a 4-2 win over Leicester City which sealed their place in the last four of the FA Cup.


Marc Cucurella gave Chelsea the lead in the 13th minute following a good work from Nicolas Jackson.


Raheem Sterling missed a penalty in the 26th minute before Cole Palmer scored the second goal with a cool finish from Sterling’s cross.


Leicester City resumed the second half with a renewed hope asking salient questions before they were able to reduce the deficit in a fortunate manner.


Axel Disasi scored a comical own goal in the six minutes into the second half when he passed the ball into his own net from outside the box with Sanchez out of his line.


Stephy Mavididi restored parity for Leicester City 11 minutes later with a brilliant individual effort.


The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Callum Doyle fouled Nicolas Jackson at the edge of the box, the referee awarded a free kick which was poorly taken by Raheem Sterling.


Carney Chukwuemeka replaced Mykhailo Mudryk in the 78th minute and he combined with Cole Palmer in the 92nd minute to score the third goal.


Noni Madueke completed the victory with a stunning individual effort in the 98th minute to send Chelsea to the last four of the competition.


He has now scored five goals in all competitions for Chelsea this season.


 

President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the killing of about 16 Nigerian soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.


Tinubu, in a statement on Sunday, said “the cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”


The statement personally signed by the President reads in full : “On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.


The incident occurred on Thursday, March 14, 2024, when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, were ambushed. A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.


As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.


I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.


This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism.


As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united. The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.


Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.


The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.


My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.


May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep members of our armed forces safe.”