No fewer than nine persons including Nursery and Primary school pupils, lost their lives after a three-storey building caved in, yesterday, at Dagara, street, Ita Faaji, Lagos Island.
However, 24 of them, the majority of who were females were rescued and rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where doctors battled to resuscitate them.
Some of the injured had fractures, bruises and severe cuts on part of their bodies, while scores of others were still trapped under the debris with rescue operators, including residents making frantic efforts to evacuate them, as at 7.45pm. The topmost floor of the three storey building was occupied by Ohel Nursery and Primary school, with a penthouse on it.
The Rivers state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to declare governor Nyesom Wike the winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state.
The state chairman of the party, Bro. Felix Obuah made the call at the expanded news briefing of the party executives in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Wednesday.
Relying on the results from the unites, wards and Local Governments where the exercise was successfully held Obuah said, “With the available result from the field, I want to assure you that His Excellency (Wike) has won overwhelmingly and INEC should not waste time in declaring Governor Nyesom Wike the winner and governor-elect of Rivers State.
“We are not worried about what some people are saying; the truth is that with the results from the field, the incumbent governor should be declared governor-elect.”
He claimed that already, INEC has declared PDP legislative candidates winners in the 26 state constituencies and 14 national assembly seats while the African Action Congress (AAC), got no seat, where the election matters have been concluded.
A former spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, has dropped the two Senior Advocates of Nigeria leading his defence in his N400m money laundering case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, hiring another lawyer, Mr Abel Ozioko, to take over from them.
Ozioko appeared in the case for the first time on Wednesday.
Metuh’s decision to stop Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu and Mr Emeka Etiaba came barely 24 hours after they filed an application for withdrawal as the defendant’s counsel.
Justice Okon Abang on March 5, 2019 fixed March 13, 2019 for the hearing of the SANs’ application.
But before the scheduled hearing, Metuh stopped them.
Ikpeazu and Etiaba had led his defence since January 2016 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission preferred the charges against him.
Metuh and his firm, Destra Investment Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on money laundering charges involving allegations that they both fraudulently took the sum N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser “when they reasonably ought to know” that the money was part of the proceeds of alleged criminal act of then NSA, Sambo Dasuki”.
Metuh was also accused of transacting with a cash of $2m without going through a financial institution in violation of a provision of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Ikpeazu informed the judge that his application seeking an order permitting him and his law firm to withdraw from the case had been overtaken by event following Metuh’s letter stopping his law firm.
Rochas Okorocha, outgoing Governor of Imo State, says his certificate of election as a senator cannot be seized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking on Wednesday when a crowd of youth supporters marched to the Government House to protest the conduct of the just-concluded elections, Okorocha accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) posted to the state of working against him.
According to Okorocha, anyone who decides to go against him would lose.
INEC had removed Okorocha's name from the list of senators-elect who will be presented certificates on Thursday March 14, 2019. According to the commission, Okorocha was declared winner of the election "under duress".
However, the Governor has kicked against the move, saying: "In my own case, my Certificate of Return has not been issued and I wonder why INEC will withhold my certificate for a frivolous reason, without hearing from me.
"I am not a violent person and those who know me know that. This is why we have peace in Imo State. The Returning Officer could not have done that under duress under the watchful eyes of the Police, DSS and party agents. I am not unmindful of the fact that those who are fighting me from Abuja are anxious to see me removed as a senator. I urge INEC to do the right thing immediately by releasing my certificate.
"Let me tell every Nigerian that I fought no one and no one should fight me. If anyone fights me, he will be the loser at the end of it all. My INEC Certificate cannot be touched or seized, doing so is belittling democracy in Nigeria. It is only the tribunal that has the right to say otherwise once a result is declared. INEC cannot seize my certificate by mere petition written by somebody in a case I was not given the opportunity to present my own side of the story."
He also rejected the result of the governorship election in the state, stating that Emeka Ihedioha, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Imo Governor-elect, didn't have the required number of votes to emerge winner.
The Nigerian government has banned the Boeing 737 Max aircraft from flying in the country.
The decision is coming days after a Boeing 737 Max-8 plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines, crashed in Addis Ababa, on its way to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Sunday.
Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, disclosed the country’s decision on Wednesday, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
The Naira on Wednesday gained marginally against the dollar at the parallel market in Lagos, exchanging at N358 to the dollar.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the naira had exchanged at N358.2 to the dollar on Tuesday.
The Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N470 and N406 respectively. At the Bureau De Change segment, the Naira traded at N360 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N470 and N406 respectively.
Trading at the investors’ window saw the Naira closing at N360.29 to the dollar as market turnover stood at $60.94m.
NAN reported that the Naira had remained stable at the parallel market, due largely to the interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians, says he has lost confidence in the leadership of Charles Oputa (Charly Boy), the convener of the OurMumuDonDo Movement.
He disclosed this on Wednesday morning in Abuja in a text message sent to SaharaReporters at 9am.
The message read: "Dear Nigerians, I have resigned my membership of OurMumuDon. I no longer have confidence in the leader of the movement, Charly Boy. He betrayed the cause while I was away in prison and compromised with the oppressors. Thank you. — Deji Adeyanju."
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress are planning to use soldiers to rig the rerun governorship elections slated for March 23 in six states by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The party said it based its conclusion on what it experienced during the rerun of the governorship election in Osun State, where it alleged that security men barred journalists, observers and voters who wanted to vote for the PDP from gaining access to polling units.
The PDP also accused INEC of working in tandem with the ruling party to deny it victory in states where it claimed the voters trooped out in large numbers to vote for its candidates.
It would be recalled that the commission on Tuesday named states where such rerun elections would hold as Kano, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Benue and Sokoto States.
But the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who spoke with Punch correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, asked Nigerians and the international community to pay attention to what he described as the “antics of the APC and INEC to deny Nigerians the opportunity to freely elect their leaders.”
The man's plight was brought to social media after Nigerian entertainer who's based in America, Chinomso Prince Egbuchere, spotted him laying on the ground in Houston.
His name is Emmanuel, and hails from Mbaise in Imo state. He revealed he has been in the US for 35 years and has been suffering from various illnesses including swollen legs due to diabetes.
He said he couldn't do anything about it due to financial incapability.
He also claimed he has a son there who is not cooperative and that he wants to return to Nigeria but doesn't know how.
The Mbaise community in Houston, after hearing of his case, mobilized themselves and rushed the homeless man to the hospital for treatment. Efforts are also being made to find a home for him or help him return to Nigeria if he makes up his mind among other assistance the community offered him.
The love birds decided to replicate the senior-junior tussle which is obtainable in government secondary schools. The husband-to-be playing the role of the senior boy punished his woman by telling her to go on her knees while wielding canes.
The pictures have cracked people up on social media.
A suspected Yahoo boy has been caught with charms and used sanitary pads. The Abeokuta big boy was said to have been caught with the strange items, some days after buying a new car and throwing a lavish birthday party for his girlfriend.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lacks the power to withhold his Certificate of Return.
Okorocha described the decision of INEC to withhold his Certificate of Return after being declared winner of the Imo West Senatorial election as unfortunate and unconstitutional.
Speaking at the state’s Government House in Owerri, Okorocha said
INEC was being used by those fighting to stop him from going to the Senate. According to the governor, it is only the courts that have the powers to nullify any election after a winner has been declared, insisting that the electoral umpire does not have such power.
He said: “In my own case, my Certificate of Return has not been issued and I wonder why INEC will withhold my Certificate for a frivolous reason, without hearing from me. I am not a violent person and those who know me know that. This is why we have peace in Imo State.
“The Returning Officer could not have done that under duress under the watchful eyes of the Police, DSS and party agents. I am not unmindful of the facts that those who are fighting me from Abuja are anxious to see me removed as a Senator. I urge INEC to do the right thing immediately by releasing my Certificate.
“Let me tell every Nigerian that I fought no one and no one should fight me. If anyone fights me, he will be the loser at the end of it all. My INEC Certificate cannot be touched or seized, doing so is belittling democracy in Nigeria. It is only the Tribunal that has the right to say otherwise once a result is declared. INEC cannot seize my Certificate by mere petition written by somebody in a case I was not given the opportunity to present my own side of the story.”
More details have surfaced about the collapsed building at Ita Faaji, Lagos Island which has claimed 12 lives with 41 people injured. The building was marked for demolition, what happened?
According Twitter user Adebayo Kankole Akintunde, "The collapsed Lagos Island building had been marked for demolition & occupants asked to relocate last year. Months later, the occupants came back, demolition mark erased, someone has been settled....
"Now, the building collapsed, killing innocent school pupils."
Gunmen have attacked the divisional police command at Afuze, headquarters of the Owan-East LGA of Edo, killing the divisional police officer (DPO) and three other officers on duty.
The hoodlums also attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the town, and destroyed electoral materials and burning down a police van in the compound.
The officers killed in the attack were:
Tosimani Ojo, the DPO; Justina Aghomon, a pregnant woman, Sado Isaac and Glory David.
A witness, Godwin Ikpekhia, told NAN on Wednesday that the incident occurred at about 8pm on Tuesday, while many of the officers in the division had gone on outside duties.
“We only heard gunshots and nobody knew what actually happened until Wednesday morning,” he said. “The divisional police officer, alongside three other officers who were on duty were killed on the spot, inside the building.
“The hoodlums didn’t just stop at that; they went to the INEC office and were shooting sporadically at policemen who were on duty there. Election materials and a police van at the INEC office were burnt by the hoodlums.”
CP Muhammed Danmallam who visited the scene, said investigation would commence immediately.
Danmallam vowed that those responsible for the attacks would be brought to book. “Urgent steps will be taken to curb the increasing cases of criminality in the Owan axis of the state,’’ he said.
Attacks on officers and men of the Nigeria Police have become quite unusual in the Owan area.
On July 14, last year, four police officers were killed at a checkpoint in the area and burnt inside their Hilux Patrol van. Also on January 23, this year, Ohio Ezomo, All Progressives Congress (APC) house of assembly candidate for Owan-west,was kidnapped, while his orderly was killed on the spot.
A 25-year-old man, Seyi Ajiboye, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl (name withheld) who is suffering down syndrome.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder which causes developmental and intellectual delays in children.
The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who spoke with journalists on Wednesday said the suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Agbado Divisional headquarters by the victim, ”accompanied by her parents”.
“The victim complained that while she was coming from a church service at Oluwalogbon street Abule Ijoko, the suspect who resides in the area lured her into his room, forcefully removed her underwear and had carnal knowledge of her without her consent,” Mr Oyeyemi said.
The police spokesman said the suspect ”increased the volume of his radio making it impossible for people around to hear her (victim) screaming”.
“On the strength of the report, the DPO Agbado Division, CSP Olatunji Omonijo led his detectives to the area where the suspect was arrested. He has since made a confessional statement to the effect that he actually committed the crime. The victim has been taken to the hospital for medical treatment and report,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the Anti-human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the state police.
President Muhammadu Buhari says he is extremely saddened by the collapse of a building housing a school in Itafaaji area of Lagos, which left fatalities, particularly of small children.
The President via a press statement on Wednesday sympathised with the parents and relations of the deceased, wishing them God’s comfort.
He also wished the injured speedy and complete recovery.
He commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State and pledged assistance of the Federal Government as may be required by the state.
“It touches one to lose precious lives in any kind of mishap, particularly those so young and tender. May God grant everyone affected by this sad incident fortitude and succour,” the President said.
He charged the Lagos State government to do all that is needful, so that such tragic developments do not recur in future.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it will not issue a certificate of return to any candidate in the February 23 Imo West senatorial election.
After a controversial results collation process, the outgoing governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha, was declared winner of the Senate seat by the returning officer, Innocent Ibeabuchi, who clearly noted he did so “under duress”.
“…I have been held hostage here for days so I’m trying to ease off and take my life home back to my children and for the sake of that I am calling these results under duress,” Mr Ibeabuchi had said before reading out the results.
The commission said it will not recognise the governor as a senator-elect because of the controversy during the collation process.
In INEC’s list of senators-elect published Monday on the commission’s website, Mr Okorocha’s name was omitted.
“Declaration made under duress”, was boldly written instead.
INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, during Channels TV’s Lunchtime Politics Program on Tuesday explained reasons behind the commission’s decision.
“The commission has decided that we will not reward bad behavior in the electoral process and we recorded bad behavior in result collations in Imo West Senatorial District”, Mr Okoye told Millicent Nnwoka, the anchor of the programme.
“Investigation by the commission revealed that the returning officer for Imo West made a return under suspicious circumstances.
“He was put under too much pressure. He was forced to make a declaration and a return and we made determination that that particular return was not made out of the free will of the returning officer.”
Mr Okoye explained that in such circumstance where a valid return has not been made, “we are not going to bend the arm of the INEC to (accept) such a return.”
“So therefore, we decided not to issue certificate of return to any candidate of the Imo West senatorial elections until the commission takes a more critical look and take a decision on where to go from here,” the official noted.
When Michael Jackson bought a 3,000-acre ranch in Santa Barbara back in 1988, he had one goal in mind, and that was to create a home that offered, "everything I never had as a child."
Explaining he made it for "myself and for the children," he turned the sprawling estate into a children's paradise - installing a petting zoo, ferris wheel, pirate ship, bumper cars, a rollercoaster, amusement arcades and two railways.
There were elephants, tigers, lions, and "bus loads of kids" arriving everyday to experience his creation - aptly named Neverland after Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up.
But behind the flashing lights and endless fun, prosecutors at his 2003 child molestation trial claimed Neverland had been created as a fantasy resort to lure and groom young boys.
His latest accusers, Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40, claim it was a sinister set-up of hidden 'abuse' rooms, alarm systems and porn - allegations Jackson's estate denies.
Raiding officers discovered pictures of animal torture, n-de children and sadomasochistic p-rnography in a triple-locked closet in his bedroom, according to Radar Online.
A picture said to have been taken of the cupboard showed a signed picture of Macauley Culkin - believed to have been given to Jacko as a gift from the child star - with the caption, "Don't leave me alone in the house."
“The vast majority of the pictures were of teenagers and/or young adults,” one investigator from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff Department wrote in a report at the time.
“Some of the pictures depicted individuals wearing no clothing, or in a partial state of undress."
Secret rooms
According to Radar, officers also found drugs used for s-x addiction and secret rooms, with the entrance to one obscured by a juke box, Mirror.co.uk reports.
