American rapper, Christopher Brian Bridges popularly known as Ludacris, is now a citizen of Gabon, a country along the Atlantic coast of Central Africa.
Ludacris along with his wife, Eudoxie and his entire family were granted the Gabonese citizenship status on January 2nd, 2020 during his on-going African trip.
He took to his official Instagram page to share the news of his Gabonese citizenship status saying, “starting my New Year off with dual Citizenship! AFRICA I’M OFFICIAL!! Momma & Kids Too. The Best Gift of the Decade Award goes to @eudoxie”.
The Cross River Government has given a 7-day ultimatum to traders on illegal structures along major streets in Calabar to relocate their businesses to Watt or Marian markets or face demolition.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mfon Bassey, gave the ultimatum on Friday in Calabar during an inspection tour from the Nipost office in Calabar down to Watt Market in view of clearing the hawking activities on the pedestrian way that impeded the free flow of persons and vehicles.
While addressing the hawkers at different points, Bassey said that the state government was committed to a clean and green environment, hence the need to relocate all roadside sellers back to the markets.
He told the hawkers that the ministry had earlier issued an ultimatum on Dec. 27, 2019, asking them to remove all illegal structures, shanties and containers from the roadside.
He said structures on drainages should be removed also to allow for a free flow of water when the rains come.
Bassey said the exercise was to ensure a more organised Calabar and prevent flooding during the rainy season.
He added that defaulters of the notice given would face stiffer sanctions and demolition of their structures.
Police arrest 4 cultists, recover gun in Enugu
The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested four suspected cultists for alleged unlawful possession of firearm at Agbogugu in Mbanabor community of Awgu Local Government Area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Friday in Enugu, and which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the suspects were arrested on Dec. 27.
Amaraizu said that one cut to size locally-made gun and one live cartridge was recovered from the suspects.
He noted that the feat was achieved by the Anti-Cult Unit of the command through intelligence information.
The police spokesman said that the suspects included Chidera Okafor, 20; Sochima Stanley, 25; Ekene Okoye, 18, and Christian Okeke, 34.
“The suspects were arrested on information following their cult activities where one member of Vikings confraternity group sustained axe cut inflicted on him by the arrested suspects,’’ he said.
Amaraizu said police operatives had commenced investigation on the matter.
In a related development, police operatives had arrested one Nonso Udeagu, 25, of Udi Road, Asata in Ogui within Enugu for unlawful possession of substance suspected to be cocaine.
Amaraizu said that five wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine were recovered from Udeagu, adding that the suspect was arrested on Dec. 19 at 11.30 p.m. along Udi Road by police operatives of Ogui Division.
According to him, investigation had commenced into the matter.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Thursday’s demolition of a property belonging to former Senate President Bukola Saraki by Kwara state government, describing it as vindictive and wicked.
It also regards the demolition as a recipe for crisis in the state.
In a press release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said “it is clear that the action of the state government is borne out of hatred and political intolerance, in furtherance of the larger plot by the APC and its administration to intimidate, suppress, hound, crush and silence opposition and dissenting voices in our country, in the bid to foist a siege mentality on the citizenry.
“The PDP dismisses the reasons being spewed by the APC administration for this New Year dastardly act as baseless, false and incongruous, as they fail to add up, to justify the ferocious invasion, harassment of citizens and demolition of the said property.
“The demolition is a complete subversion of rule of law as the matter is already in court. The APC-led Kwara state government could not wait for the outcome of the court process apparently because it knows that it is pursuing an illegal agenda.
“Nigerians know how the APC and its government have been hounding, harassing and dragging Senator Saraki around over trumped-up charges, for daring to be among compatriots at the forefront of the quest to rescue our nation from misrule and strangleholds of the APC and its cabal.”
The party, therefore, cautioned “the APC, its administration, and in this particular case, the Kwara state government, against crossing the boundaries and stretching the forbearance of the people, which is already causing a tension that could trigger serious unrest in our country.
“It is also instructive to note that in the years the PDP governed Kwara state, there was no case of government demolishing the property of opposition members or supporters under any guise whatsoever.
“Our party therefore stands with Senator Saraki and cautions the Kwara state government to henceforth steer clear of the property.”
He rung in the New Year with a family trip to Barbados. And Anthony Joshua continued to make the most of his sun-drenched getaway, as he strolled along the beach with a female companion on Thursday afternoon.
The two-time heavyweight champion, 30, flaunted his muscular physique and sported a pair of bright blue swim shorts while larking around on the shoreline.
Joshua has been enjoying the break with his relations, and shared a post earlier in the day which said he was 'hanging out with the queens of his family'.
It is therefore possible that the unknown woman he was enjoying some downtime on the beach with is a member of the Joshua clan.
The duo laughed and joked as they strolled along the shoreline together, with Joshua sweetly wrapping his arm around her shoulders at one point.
Joshua's beach buddy rocked a blue bikini, consisting of a sporty-style top half teamed with a pair of matching bottoms with yellow detailing.
The authorities of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria, founded by Davido’s father, Dr Deji Adeleke are facing public scrutiny once again over their religious intolerance, in a country with a constitution that provides for freedom of religion.
The private school, which is founded on the religious ethics of the Seventh Day Adventist church, drove itself into the new storm following the suspension of a part three Law student, Lawal Toheeb, for failure to attend the university’s compulsory chapel activities.
Lawal was suspended last month for a semester and as P.M.News gathered, he may be expelled on resumption for not identifying and adhering to the religious activities in the school.
In a letter of suspension, signed by the school registrar, Mr. Oyerinde Caleb Oyejola JP, the student was found guilty of ‘gross disrespect to constituted authority”. This followed the approval by the President/Vice Chancellor of the report of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee
The residence of a former Senate President, David Mark, in Otukpo town, Benue State has been gutted by fire.
Witnesses said the fire spread from a nearby bush bordering the fence of the ex-senate president’s residence and bunt down two ambulance vehicles as well as over 15 motor cycles parked in the premises.
It was gathered that domestic workers at the residence made frantic efforts to put out the fire without much success before the arrival of the State Fire Service in Otukpo.
One of the domestic workers, who preferred anonymity, said, “we made every effort to quench the fire but the more we tried the more it continued to spread. “It was when we noticed that we could not stop it from engulfing the guest house that we called in the Fire Service.”
Aspirants for the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, UI, have started emerging as the institution will soon commence the process of the selection of a new Vice Chancellor to run the affairs of the institution till December 1, 2025.
The tenure of the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka will officially expire on November 30, 2020.
It was learnt that the contest for the 13th Vice Chancellorship of the nation’s Premier University maybe a straight battle between the incumbent Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and others.
Investigations revealed that the political space maybe open before the end of February when interested professors are expected to officially declare their intentions.
Going by precedence, about 15 aspirants including few that will be sourced outside the University to fulfill all righteousness usually vie for the position.
Four people have lost their lives, while four others sustained various degrees of injuries in a lone accident involving a truck at Pipeline Junction, Ogere Remo axis of Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, on Thursday, January 2nd.
The Public Relations Officer Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the crash occurred around 4.30 a.m. He highlighted that the truck, with registration number TKP 653 XA, which was loaded with yams, lost control.
He said the red coloured Man Diesel truck, which was coming from the North and in bound Lagos, had 14 passengers, presumed to be owners of the products, sitting on the top of the yams when the accident occurred.
“The casualty was much because some of the passengers, who are also likely owners of the yam, were seating on the yam in the open space at the back. Thus, when it lost control due to overspeeding and poor visibility, (they) fell by its side, with the yam and vehicle falling on them” Akinbiyi said.
Akinbiyi said four of the passengers died on the spot while the injured were taken to Idera Hospital, Sagamu. The agency’s spokesperson said the deceased were taken to FOS mortuary, Ipara Remo, as at the time of filing this report, while the vehicle has been taken to the Police Motor Traffic Division, Iperu-Remo.
Akinbiyi said the command commiserates with the family of the dead and injured. He advised motorists to ensure their vehicles are well maintained, avoid overspeeding and night travel as much as possible, especially now that that the harmattan season, with its poor visibility, is here.
A Russian Antonov military plane carrying Sudanese judges and injured people crashed on Thursday in the Darfur region of Sudan, with all those on board killed, according to the Sudanese Red Crescent.
The plane was travelling from the city of El Geneina – located in the west of Sudan, near the border with Chad – to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.
The aircraft was transporting people injured in a tribal conflict in Darfur to Khartoum for treatment.
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has reacted to Thursday’s demolition of his father’s Ilorin, Kwara State house.
The Kwara State Government had on Thursday morning demolished the late Olusola Saraki’s house, popularly called Ile Arugbo (House for old persons), after the state government revoked the title of the landed property.
Reacting to the development, Saraki assured that justice would prevail in no distance time.
“Following the development this morning in Ile Arugbo, I want to commend the women and men, old and young, who displayed their affection, love and staunch support for my late father and the family. I appreciate the genuine support of the women and youths who stood firmly in the face of aggression and naked show of force.
“Your action throughout the night gave full expression to my belief that what Ile Arugbo represents to all of us is etched in our hearts. It goes beyond the physical structure. I am happy that you were not intimidated as you stood your ground.
“This day will go down as the day you reciprocated the love and affection my father and family have for you. You have displayed a gesture of goodwill and passionate love. We assure you that justice shall prevail in a not too distant future,” he said on his Facebook wall.
Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc minutes ago announced a 10-day interruption of power supply. This will take effect around, Onilekere, Sodeke, Onipetesi and its environs.
Their full statement below...
''Dear Esteemed Customer,
This is to notify you that there will be an interruption of power supply to your area between Monday, 6th and Thursday, 16th of January 2020, to enable us install new 11KV panels at Mangoro Injection Substation to boost power supply to your area.
''The outage will affect Onilekere, Sodeke, Onipetesi, Valley View, Santos Layout, Sunday Farm, parts of Dopemu Road, Oniwaya Road and Aluminium Village, Capitol Road, Sule, Arigidi and parts of Sebiotimo Streets.
''Others include Adegbola, Ajakaiye, Ikuomola, Ni Olagoke, Abimbola, Oseni, Markez, Akinjobi, Taiwo Dada, Owo, Ogunwo, Awori, Abeje, Yekinni and Olagoke Streets.
''We for your understanding and assure you that power will be fully restored as soon as the work is completed.
Kwara state government has finally embarked on the demolition of Saraki’s family house in Ilorin.
The building popularly known as “Ile Arugbo” was demolished early this morning after security operatives dispersed protesters, including aged women who had been keeping a vigil in the complex.
A twitter user has called out Oando filling station for its alleged continuous demand of N50 stamp duty. He called them out sharing the alleged receipt of the transaction.
Lol, we love people that know how to make use of social media.
Eze Amalu tweeted; ''Lemme report an @Oando_PLC filling station to @fccpcnigeria. They have refused to stop collecting N50 stamp duty from POS use despite @cenbank directive.
Meanwhile @SPARNigeria are the law-abiding ones.''
Fulani herders in Oyo State, under the aegis of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, have filed a suit against the state government and the State House of Assembly over an anti-grazing law recently passed.
The Fulani elders said the anti-grazing law is a gross violation of their fundamental rights, Vanguard reported.
The herders also joined the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state in the suit.
The Anti-grazing bill, sponsored by the Speaker of the Oyo Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, the Deputy Speaker, Abiodun Fadeyi, Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin and the minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape, was signed into law despite resistance by the herders.
Nollywood Actor, Samuel Ajibola famous for his role as Spiff in the sitcom ‘The Johnsons’ is engaged. Ajibola announced his engagement to his girlfriend, Sandra on Instagram saying he can't wait to spend the rest of his life with her.
Sharing the big news on Instagram, Ajibola wrote;
''S O U L M A T E : I’ve always been big on the kind of Soul i would be spending the rest of my Life with as Forever is a Long time to be Miserable with the wrong person . At some point of my adolescence , It became a fervent prayer request when i figured i couldn’t find you myself . God answered , and it didn’t take long to confirm you as the woman of my Dreams , My Best friend & the very one that would complement me . I’m completely certain that i have made the Right choice with you because since we met I haven’t spent a day without thinking of you (which is very rare of me) , and i can’t wait to spend the rest of our Lives laughing and Playing like we do Everyday .''
Michelle Obama has been named the “most admired woman” in the world in a major new US survey.
The former first lady, who had consistently higher popularity ratings than her husband while they were in the White House, surpassed the current US president and first lady in Gallup’s annual poll.
It is the second year in a row Ms Obama has earned the accolade of world’s most venerated woman.
The 55-year-old took ten per cent of the vote, followed by Melania Trump who gained five per cent of it.
Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Greta Thunberg all took three per cent of the vote each.
An 11-year-old boy on Monday stabbed his elder brother, 15, to death following a quarrel over a wire in Nakuru town.
According to a Nyumba Kumi official, Evans Ekaliche, the two boys had been left in the care of their uncle by their mother who had travelled upcountry.
The younger boy, a Standard Five pupil, is said to have been overcome by anger and threatened to stab his brother with the knife he had been holding before the quarrel broke out.
The elder brother did not heed his warning and was stabbed in the stomach.
Neighbours rushed the injured boy to a private hospital near Nakuru Nursing Home but was pronounced dead on arrival after losing too much blood.
Mr Ekaliche said the two boys had just recently moved to Nakuru town from the rural and have been living with their uncle.
Police seized the 11-year-old assailant and held him at Bondeni police station but later transferred him to another facility suitable for minors.
Kwara state government has defended its decision to revoke the Ilofa road, GRA, Ilorin plots of land allegedly illegally acquired by the late strong man of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki.
The state government also revealed further details surrounding the Civil Service Clinic land and its adjourning plots in Ilorin, the state capital, amid public enquiry.
“The entire land was acquired in the 1970s for Overriding Public Interest and same was initially designed to host the phase II of the State Secretariat. The construction of the said State Secretariat Phase II was actually commenced and it was at superstructure level before same was abandoned,” Director General of the Bureau of Lands Ibrahim Salman said in a statement.
“The entire land was later redesigned in the 1980s for the construction of a Civil Service Clinic, State Secretariat, and a parking lot for both the Clinic and the State Secretariat.
“The Clinic was subsequently constructed in 1982, while the remaining plots of land were conceived for the expansion of the Clinic into a full-fledged Hospital.
“The dream of the state Government was stalled when part of the land slated for the parking lot was spuriously allocated in principle to one Asa Investment for commercial purpose.
“From available records, the allocation was not based on a formal application, nor application forms filled; there was no evidence of payment for the said allocation as stipulated in the letter of allocation in principle and consequently, no right of occupancy was ever issued to the Company.
“Furthermore, in flagrant abuse of the allocation terms, the company took possession of the land and constructed what is today known as ‘Ile Arugbo’ on part of the land that was designed as parking lot and later conceived to host the expansion of the Civil Service Clinic into a full-fledged Hospital.
“Following a resolution of the Kwara State House of Assembly mandating him to revoke/withdraw the spurious allocation, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recently signed an instrument to reclaim the land on the ground that same was unlawfully allocated to a private Company contrary to the public purpose of its acquisition and occupied in breach of the terms of allocation.
“This (press) release is intended to state the facts on the land recently revoked/withdrawn by the state government as contained in our records.”
A man in Busia County, Kenya has been convicted of murdering his brother two years ago for allegedly being a witch doctor.
Samwel Pamba was found guilty on December 11, 2019 by Justice Kiarie Waweru of the High Court in Busia.
“From the evidence on record, I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved the offence of murder against the accused. I find him guilty and accordingly convict him for the offence of murder contrary to section 204 of the Penal Code,” ruled Justice Kiarie.
Pamba had been charged with murder of his brother Wilfred Egesa on May 31, 2017 at Munando village in Bukhayo West location of Busia County.
The prosecution said that Pamba and two others alleged that his brother was involved in witchcraft, and attacked and fatally injured him.
But Pamba claimed that his brother was found lying on a path wounded and denied any involvement in the attack.
The court was told that when the deceased was preparing for a bath outside his house, he asked his wife, Jennifer Nekesa, to eavesdrop on what his brother and the two others were saying about him.
Nekesa testified that she stood at her door and heard Pamba and Kizito Mangenyi and a nephew named Bossy insulting her late husband.
They accused her husband of having killed many people through witchcraft and using black arts to cause the accident of a man identified as Lawrence Wanjala.
They threatened to kill him but she persuaded them to talk it over the following, to which they agreed.
Later when Nekesa and her husband where in the house, Kizito called the deceased out and told him that he had a message for him.
When her husband went out, she testified that she heard Kizito tell him that his brother had asked him to stop witchcraft.
When the deceased asked him how he knew he practiced witchcraft, she heard the sound of something being hit and went out.
She found him sprawled on the ground with blood oozing from his head.
The accused, Kizito and Bossy were each armed with a club and were beating up her husband. She raised an alarm.
Kizito and Bossy ran away while the accused remained at the scene.
The club he had was wrestled from him by another brother, James, who gave it to their mother.
