THE NETWORK

Category: Breaking

  • Troops Invade Anambra Community In Reprisal Over Killing Of Five Soldiers

    By Kamsi Anayo, Awka 

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have invaded Umunze community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state in what appeared as a reprisal action following the alleged murder of five soldiers and two civilians in the area on Wednesday.

    It would recalled that seven persons including five soldiers were ambushed and shot dead on Wednesday around Zenith Bank area in Umunze town.

    However, over a hundreds troops were reported to have invaded the community, shooting indiscriminately, and injuring several people. 

    The military men were said to have  burnt some houses, shops, according to sources.

    The soldiers who also invaded Nkwo Market in area ordered the traders to close their shops, while shooting indiscriminately causing pandemonium as people scamper for refuge.

    Apart from the Nkwo Market, all the shops in that vicinity, all the schools in the area quickly closed as parents withdrew their children.

    President General of the town, Chief John Akanyeonu, who addressed journalists in Awka on Thursday evening, said the soldiers had opened fire on his people when they stormed the crime scene at about 3pm, injuring some of the residents.

    He said that one of the persons who were hit by the army’s bullets died while others were still struggling to stay alive in various hospitals.

    Asked what the community was doing about the development, he said: “We have made some calls to the DSS office and the DPO here. We have also called some top military officers and I think they are discussing with their colleagues to take it easy with our people.

    “All the schools around here were shut down. And there is no hope of reopening tomorrow. Because of their behaviour, people were so afraid”, Akanyeonu further lamented.

    Meanwhile, a trending video on the military’s invasion showed people running away to safety, everywhere deserted. The maker of the video also showed a pellet he picked from the Nkwo Market area.

    Efforts to speak with the state Police Command were unsuccessful as the spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached on telephone as called placed to his mobile telephone could not connect. 

    He was also yet to respond to text message.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds Adeleke as authentic PDP candidate

    By Kamsi Anayo

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld Senator Ademola Adeleke as the authentic candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the July governorship election in Osun state.

    The five-member panel, in their judgment delivered by Justice Amina Augie, affirmed  that the Apex court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit after counsel for the appellant, Adebayo Adelodun, SAN, withdrew the earlier notice of appeal that was filed within time.

    Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship primary election, on July 16,  produced the Osun Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, as its candidate.

    At the resumed hearing in the case,  Adelodun, who appeared for Dotun Babayemi, told the court that he is withdrawing the earlier notice of appeal to replace it with the fresh application he filed.

    But the five man Supreme Court panel relying on Section 285(11) of the constitution held that an appeal on a pre-election matter must be filed within 14 days from the day of the decision, adding that having filed the second appeal out of time, the apex court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter

    Justice Augie, therefore, dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

    Babayemi, in his suit prayed the court to invalidate the primary election that produced the governor-elect, citing non-compliance with a court order.

    In his judgment on the matter on May 18, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, in Osogbo, affirmed the governorship primary that produced Adeleke.

    Also, the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, in its judgment on July 20, on the appeal filed against the decision of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, aligned with the lower court and dismissed Babayemi’s appeal.

    Prince Dotun Babayemi had dragged the Governor-Elect to the court, asking to be recognized as the candidate of the party.

    Babayemi emerged from a factional primary held on March 8 at WOCDIF event center.

    Details later…

  • Soludo Blows Hot on Murdered Soldiers in Anambra Community

    Kamsi Anayo, Awka

    Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has confirmed the killing of soldiers in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of the state, while also condemning the act.

    Soludo in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said the soldiers were ambushed on a routine patrol at Umunze by yet to be identified gunmen.

    Soludo said: “We condemn this wicked and cruel attack in the strongest terms. The perpetrators of this act must pay. We are not going to rest on our oars, including those people that attacked Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah and the rest. There will be absolutely no hiding place for them.

    “Going forward, our actions will show, as these people must surely pay for this heinous and repulsive attack.”

    “The governor urged Anambra people to remain calm and law-abiding as the security agencies are on top of the situation,”  he said.

  • Breaking: Court Sacks Ahmed Lawan As APC Senatorial candidate, Gives Fresh Order

    By Kamsi Anayo

    The Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Bashir Machina as the candidate for Yobe North senatorial candidate.

    Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary, which was held on the 28/05/2022.

    The judge described the primary election where Senate President Ahmad Lawan emerged as the candidate as “phantom”.

  • Police Parade Abuja-Based Notorious Kidnapper, John Ewa,  Alias ‘John Lyon’ in Yenagoa

    By Kamsi Anayo

    The Police in Bayelsa State has paraded kidnap kingpin, John Ewa, alias Lion, who was arrested in Abuja.

    Ewa who was responsible for high-profile kidnappings in Bayelsa state was paraded alongside three members of his gang by the police at the Police Officers Mess, Yenagoa Bayelsa state.

    The kidnap suspect was arrested by operatives of Operation Puff Adder in Abuja, after which his real identity was revealed.

    As against the trick of the name Lyon John that trended on social media, the suspect’s real name was discovered to be John Ewa as reported by the Network.

    The Network reported that John Ewa changed his name to John Lyon when he was a dispatch rider at a commercial bank after he was sacked due alleged involvement in criminal activities at the bank.

    Ewa, it was learnt, while working at the bank, had handled several errands for his superior which gave him access to privileged information which was supplied to criminal elements to carry out operations.

    After his appointment was terminated, Ewa was said to have recruited boys to run a kidnap syndicate with specialisation in kidnapping high profile residents of the state.

    According to investigations, operatives of Puff Adder got on the trail of Ewa after the arrest of two suspects, Kingsley Innocent and Godlives Donald involved in the kidnap of Mr Danjuma Emeije a manager with Premium Trust Bank Yenagoa.

    Emeije was kidnapped on June 30 2022 and was released after he was said to have parted with a ransom of 50 million.

    Police sources said Ewa, who runs Lyon Interior hub as cover for his criminal activities, is known for his lavish lifestyle and heavy spending at night clubs in Yenagoa.

    He was said to have masterminded the kidnap of the sister to former Governor Seriake Dickson and top Igbo businessmen forcing many of them to relocate from the state.

    During interrogation Police sources said Ewa confessed to have been involved in only two kidnap incidents and denied being part of the gang that kidnapped Danjuma.

    Recall that the suspected kidnapper’s story first trended on social media on Sunday. In a viral video, Ewa was seen in handcuffs wearing a boxer at the premises of Operation Puff Adder Yenagoa.

    The suspected kidnapper, in the viral video, was seen begging the Police officers to forgive him noting that his wife just gave birth

    “I was not involved in your kidnap (referring to the Danjuma). There is a guy they always call for a job, his name is Millow. Please, sir, forgive me. I was not involved in your matter. Please Sir my wife just gave birth”

    The Police said Ewa had gone to Premium Trust Bank pretending to be making inquiries on opening an account for his children but was actually gathering information about Danjuma.

    Danjuma, who was also at the premises of Puff Adder insisted that he could recognise Ewa as one of the kidnappers who was on a couch while his gang members were brutalizing him.

    A Police source said a close friend of Ewa, who is an in-law of a governorship candidate of one of the major political parties in the state, is also in Police custody answering questions on the kidnap incidents in the state.

  • BREAKING: Gov Tambuwal takes over from Fayemi as NGF chairman

    By Kamsi Anayo

    Gov Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, has taken over from his Ekiti state counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, as the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Tambuwal took over the position on Thursday at the National Economic Council meeting in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, after Fayemi transferred the baton of leadership to him.

    This was confirmed in a statement by the Director, Media and Public Affairs of NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo.

    The statement reads, “Tambuwal has served meritoriously and harmoniously as Vice Chairman of the Forum under Fayemi in the last four years.

    “Dr John Kayode Fayemi who was only a few weeks ago elected as the President of the Forum of Regional and State Governments in Saidia in the state of Casablanca in Morrocco attended the NEC virtually from New York City, where he is currently attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

    “The Sokoto state governor will be holding fort until May next year when a proper election is conducted among the governors.

    “Before making the announcement, the Ekiti state governor acknowledged the result driven output of the NEC and thanked his colleagues and other members of the council for their support, explaining that yes, we may be occasionally troublesome, coming from the Forum of Governors, and we do test your patience but you have never really expressed any frustration with all our truculent questions and the insistence that the federation must be a true federation.

    “The new President of the FORAF also did not forget to thank the Secretariat of the NEC and through the NEC thanked the President and Commander in Chief of the Country for taking the resolutions of the NEC seriously by implementing them.

    “In his response the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said the NGF chairman had taken the wind out of their sail, because he was “meant to, on behalf of the NEC commend the Ekiti governor and NGF Chairman’s informed and patriotic services to the council in the last four years and that was enhanced by your chairmanship of the NGF, admitting that the NGF has ensured that we move to a true federation, not just in words but in deeds as well.”

    “Osinbajo prayed that Dr fayemi’s services both nationally and globally to development, and to all of the good which the nation deserves and the global community deserves will continue.

    “Fayemi formally hands over the Chairmanship of the NGF to Rt Hon Amuinu Waziri Tambuwal on the Oct. 16″

  • WIKE’S ALLIES INSIST ON ‘AYU-MUST-GO’

    •••PULL OUT OF ATIKU’S CAMPAIGN

    Alfred Harrison and Kamsi Anayo

    The sympathisers and the supporters of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ), on Wednesday, disengaged themselves from the campaign Council of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar.

    The group staged a walk out during their stormy meeting held at the country home of Wike in Obio-Akpor early morning on Wednesday.

    According to the members of the team, they are not to participate in Atiku’s campaign activities until the resignation of the embattled party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

    Wike’s clique have insisted that there would be no deal with Atiku until Ayu vacates his office to allow an acting Chairman from the South to lead the campaign of Atiku.

    Those demanding that Ayu must-go are some of the aggrieved party leaders comprising founding members of the party, sitting governors, former ministers and other Chieftains of the party.

    The group made their position known in a resolution read by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George.

    According to the members, their stand on the vexed issues was not negotiable as the chairmanship of Ayu undermined the unity and constitution of the party.

    Bode George while reading the resolution reached by the group, stated that they were deeply concerned about the division in the PDP, despite the party’s age-long internal mechanism designed to guarantee inclusiveness.

    “We resolve that we are deeply concerned by the division in our party. We are aware that over the years our party has developed conflict resolution mechanisms that guarantee inclusiveness.

    “The published presidential campaign council list translates to putting the cat before the horse. The pertinent issue remains the resolution of the leadership which is a departure of Senator Iyorchia.

    “Ayu must resign as the National Chairman of the party for an acting Chairman of the Southern Nigerian extraction to emerge and lead the party on the national campaign

    “Consequently, we resolve not to participate in the campaign council in whatever capacity until the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu”. Bode George stated.

    The group stated further that Ayu compromised the May 28 and 29 presidential primary of the party through his conduct.

    Speaking in his remarks, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah Jang likened Ayu to a partial referee, who assisted one side to score a goal during a football match and later blew the whistle.

    “For a National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu to go and embrace Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tanbuwal, calling him the hero of the convention meant that there was a private arrangement that was done with Tambuwal to shortchange other contestants including Governor Wike.

    “Here was a referee, who helped one of his sides to score a goal and then blew the whistle. This is not what we formed the PDP to do for Nigerians. Therefore, we unequivocally ask that Ayu must step down.” Jang stated

    The group explained that their support for Wike was neither because he lost the presidential primary nor because he was not chosen as the Vice-presidential running mate but because of equity and justice in the party.

    former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, added that if the party intended to restructure Nigeria, it should have the courage to restructure itself.

    “You cannot build on a faulty foundation. This call for the chairman to step down or resign is not because any of us is aggrieved but because we believe it is important to ensure
    a just, fair, principled and constitutional structure for the party. If we want to restructure Nigeria, we should have the courage to restructure our party”. He said.

    The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, expressed confidence adding that those concerned would listen to the voice of reason.

    “We hope that the powers that be listen to the voice of reason and do the needful”. He stated.

    However, below are the names that pulled out of Atiku Abubakar’s campaign council

    Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and
    Ex Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang.

    Others are Ex Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, Bode George of Lagos, Jerry Gana, Dan Orbih from Edo and a host of others.

  • BREAKING: Court Orders ASUU To Call Off Strike

    By Kamsi Anayo

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its ongoing nationwide strike.

    ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

    Several meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government have ended in a deadlock.

    Consequently, the Federal Government went to court to challenge the strike.

    The government through its counsel, James Igwe prayed the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining ASUU from taking further steps as regards the strike, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

  • PDP CRISIS WORSENS AS WIKE, MAKINDE OTHERS PULLED OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

    ••• INSISTS AYU MUST RESIGNED

    The leaders of the People’s Democratic Party in the camp of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, have pulled out of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council for its Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    The Wike group is insisting  that the party’s National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu, must resign as a precondition for their return to the campaign council of the party.

    The group took the tough decision in an early morning meeting  in Port Harcourt on   Wednesday.

    The communique of the meeting was read  by Chief Olabode George.

    The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo is the Deputy Director General (South) of the Council while Wike and several others are members of the Council.

    Details laters 

  • Breaking: INEC Releases List Of Presidential Candidates  For 2023 Election

     The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , on Monday released the  list of the presidential candidates of the parties contesting the 2023 general elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Atiku Abubakar; All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and others were listed by the electoral body as the authentic  presidential candidates for next year’s poll.

    This is according to a circular released by the electoral body on Tuesday. 

    “The INEC circular also included the candidates’ state of origin, age, and other details. It also listed their running mates as well as their qualifications.

    View list below

    FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES

    Details soon

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