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Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Ikere Bank Robbery: Police Recover Vehicles and Motorcycle, Vow Perpetrators Will Face Full Wrath of the Law.

Ikere Bank Robbery: Police Recover Vehicles and Motorcycle, Vow Perpetrators Will Face Full Wrath of the Law.


The Ekiti State Police Command has successfully recovered three vehicles and two motorcycles used by the armed robbers who invaded Ikere, resulting in three casualties during a bank robbery. The command, led by Commissioner of Police OGUNDARE DARE, is actively pursuing the fleeing suspects who abandoned the vehicles after a heated chase by the police.

Commissioner Dare visited the robbery scene in Ikere-Ekiti for an on-the-spot assessment, expressing displeasure over the incident. He directed the Ikere Area Commander and all tactical teams within the command to ensure the swift arrest of the perpetrators.

In a statement, the Commissioner commiserated with the affected families and wished those undergoing treatment a quick recovery. He called for calm and urged everyone to continue their lawful activities, emphasizing that the command would relentlessly pursue the criminals.

The command's tactical squads and deployed military personnel engaged the hoodlums, who abandoned their vehicles and motorcycles used in the operation, escaping into the bush. The recovered vehicles and motorcycles have been brought to the station.

The Commissioner urged anyone with information about the identities or whereabouts of the armed hoodlums to contact the provided phone numbers. The police are determined to ensure the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.

Contact Numbers for Information:

08062335577

07031620186

08033470524

07032152150

09064050086


DSP ABUTU SUNDAY

Police Public Relations Officer

For: Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command

Ondo State Acting Governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, Assumes Office, Delivers State Broadcast.

Ondo State Acting Governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, Assumes Office, Delivers State Broadcast. 


The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, recently delivered a state broadcast upon assuming office due to the transmission of power by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. Below is the full text of his address:


My good people of Ondo State,
I address you today with a humble heart and a mixed feeling. The events which have culminated in today’s address is a watershed in the annals of our experience as a people. It is not a moment of celebration, but rather a moment of sober reflection. A moment for us to really appreciate the collective burden of moving our State forward. The events of the past months have indeed challenged our love for our state and indeed democracy which we all profess.


Throughout the whirlwind and the storm, we held fast to our firm believe that we owe it a duty to ourselves, the people and posterity not to allow the suspense and confusion go on without end because of its dire implications for our development and progress in Ondo State. At no time in our history has unity among our people been so vital as it is at the present time. Unity of purpose, unity of effort and unity of spirit which are all essential to accomplish the task before us. It is necessary for us to acknowledge with pride, the profound legacies and the place of our leader and father of the State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, the Governor of Ondo State. We acknowledge the sterling leadership and character he has provided for the state. Mr. Governor is a transformational and courageous leader who has turned around the fortunes of the State in the last six an-a-half years. His records of performance are monumental and here with us.

In all facets of our development, be it governance, security, health, education, economy, infrastructure, industrialisation and others, his footprints are foundational and will serve the state in greater heights in the future. Above all and as you all know our Governor has been a strong, effectual and respected voice in matters of national development, doing the Sunshine State proud at all fora. The State will forever be grateful to Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON for driving our development so well. We are really proud of him.

At this juncture, permit me to say that only God Almighty has explanations for what happened in the last few months. When nature sets in to hinder human performance, it is always a painful thing. We must acknowledge that the key to the well-being of a man is in the hands of God. It is not for us as humans to question God but to pray for His mercies upon our lives. It is in this regard that we admit with all sense of responsibility that the intrigues that ensued due to Mr Governor’s health challenges were indeed avoidable distractions. We ought to have done better so as to keep giving Ondo State the seamless and solid governance which Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, had established in the State in the last six-and-a-half years.

As a government, we must appreciate the sovereignty of the people that voted us into office and we regret in no unmistakable terms the toll which this whole episode had inflicted on the psyche of the People and the development of the State. Despite all these, my dear people, I come to you today, to urge you all not to relent, as you have always done, in your prayers for the quick restoration of good health and strenght to our leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON.

Also of paramount importance is the expectation of our people that we continue to deliver on the mandate given to Mr. Governor and my humble self . We must return quickly to the path of accelerated progress that has eluded the State in the last few months. We must excuse unnecessary distractions. We can no longer be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We must stand together until the end. We must come back stronger and more determined to advance the welfare and security of our people, being the primary object of government as encapsulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. Let us build a shared future from a divided past. We owe no less to the good people of the Sunshine State.

Bearing in mind that the very huge responsibility of governance, i must emphasise that the task is indeed not one that one individual can accomplish alone. It is a gigantic task that requires inclusive engagement, focus and collective actions from both the government and the governed. We, therefore, implore you all across the State, young and old, to contribute your utmost commitment, cooperation and support towards advancing the State in our development trajectory.

May I on this note express our deep appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Senate President His Excellency Godwin Akpabio, the National Chairman of our Party APC, His Excellency Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other top national officials of the Party for providing succour to Ondo State at our critical time of cloud and need. I extend our profound gratitude to the good people of our dear State, the speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, members of the state Executive Council, our Senators and members of the House of Representatives, members of the Ondo state the House of Assembly, the State Chairman, working committee members and leaders of our great party, the APC. We also owe a debt of gratitude to our traditional rulers, religious leaders and especially our elder Statesmen in the state led by our father, Papa Reuben Fasoranti. May I also express our profound gratitude to the civil servants of Ondo State, Civil Society Organisations, the Media and the youths for their patriotism and for being part of the peace process to guarantee continued sustenance of the pride of place of the Sunshine State in the comity of States.

I cannot but specially appreciate the third arm of Government, the Judiciary through the honourable chief Judge, for its courage, commitment and dedication to protect democracy and the constitution of the nation. It is on record that we all sailed through the unnecessary and avoidable weather together. We won together. We are all one large family. We are one great people with one focus : to make our state greater than it is today.

At a personal level, I am confident that our democracy would be further enriched with the hard lessons learnt from this episode. For us in government, this whole experience should open a new place in our hearts; a place where we must appreciate that the trust vested in us as a part of the small privileged percentage of people, must be used for the best welfare of the larger percentage of the people. We must rise far above the intrigues and instability of the past and roll up our sleeves in service of the people. We are nothing but trustees of the people with whom we share a common humanity. We must and we will exercise with utmost discretion the privileges conferred on us by the great people of Ondo State.

Finally and bearing in mind the foregoing, I therefore wish to assure you all that it is with a deep sense of humility and a heart of absolute commitment to the good of our Sunshine State that I accept the onerous assignment, during this temporary absence of Mr. Governor, to serve you as the Acting Governor of Ondo State. 

Yesterday is already behind us. This is the time to carry aloft, with love and affection for one another, the laudable vision and mission of the. Governor for the State. I appeal to every member of the Government of Ondo state for your genuine support, cooperation and dedication. We need a renewed unity to berth the significant and accelerated development clearly envisioned and vigorously pursued by Mr. Governor. My good people of Ondo state, what happened in the past was a temporary delay in our democratic journey. As a government we have recovered.

In conclusion i wish to end this address by urging you all to continue to pray for the mighty healing of God to embrace and hasten the recovery of our leader, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON to enable him return to office, hale and hearty. 

May God bless Ondo State
May He bless our dear Governor and have mercy upon us all.
Thank you.

Gov Zulum presents N340.5 billion budget for 2024.

Gov Zulum presents N340.5 billion budget for 2024.


Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has presented a N340.5 billion budget for 2024 to the state’s House of Assembly.

The budget comprises N198.2 billion capital expenditure and N142.3 billion recurrent. 

Zulum said the proposal would be financed from recurrent revenue of N206.8 billion made up of federal allocation and internally generated revenue.

His words: “The budget will also be financed by capital receipts of N128.8 billion, comprising of aids and grants as well as capital development funds.

“The projection of the 2024 budget is predicated on the Federal Government’s fiscal forecast for the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

“The internally-generated revenue forecast was adopted with some indications to reflect on the current realities within our purview.’’ 

The governor lauded the state Legislative for its sustained support and urged the members to fast-track the passage of the budget.

A breakdown of the budget showed that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has the lion’s share of N53.8 billion followed by Health with N51.1 billion.

Ministry of Works got N45.4 billion, while Education got N39.4 billion. 

Sanwo-Olu presents N2.23tn budget for 2024.

Sanwo-Olu presents N2.23tn budget for 2024.



Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday presented an N2.23 trillion appropriation bill to the House of Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year.

The ‘Budget of Renewal’ is made up of recurrent expenditure of N1.02 trillion (45 per cent) and capital expenditure of N1.224 trillion (55 per cent). The state envisages N1.847,951 trillion in revenue for the year,

Economic Affairs takes a chunk of the budget proposal with N535 billion while Education comes second with N199 billion.

The provision of “very important infrastructure viz Fourth Mainland Bridge, Food and Logistics Hub, Lagos/Epe International Airport” falls within “Economic Affairs.”

A further breakdown of the proposed budget shows that Health will take N156 billion; Environment, N94 billion, Public Order and Safety, N84 billion and Social Protection, N50 billion.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the 2024 appropriation bill will further cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and other economic hardships on the people.

He said: “Mr Speaker, I am indeed privileged to present to you today the Y2024 Budget proposal, tagged ‘The Budget of Renewal’. The process of putting this together has been very carefully guided by our THEMES Governing agenda, which has been with us since the start of the administration, and which we have recently expanded to THEMES+, the ‘+’ embodying our renewed focus on social inclusion, gender equality and youth development; our goal that in Lagos State, no one should or will be left behind.

“We have gone through some very difficult times, but while the pain is temporary, the dividends of the necessary investments we are making will be here to stay. We are working closely with the Federal Government to ramp up relief measures to help the people alleviate the pains of the subsidy removal and the impact of high inflation. 

“We are especially concerned about transportation and food costs, and in 2024, we will be keying into the targeted food security initiatives of the Federal Government. For transportation, we are fully on board with the Federal Government’s CNG-powered buses initiative, which will deliver sizable numbers of these buses to each state for public transportation. 

“The development of any megacity like ours is the responsibility of both the public and private sectors. To this end, we will continue to explore public-private-partnership strategies in the provision of infrastructure, social services, and the conversion of challenges to opportunities within the context of scarce resources.”

The governor noted that the 2023 budget of N1.7 trillion, as of Q3 ending September 30, had achieved a N1.032 trillion implementation, representing 78 per cent of the prorated estimate of N1.326 trillion.

Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said the budget must address the daunting economic challenges, and must be tailored towards improving the lives of residents.

Obasa, in his remarks after the governor’s presentation, said the government should begin to look at better ways to alleviate poverty beyond giving out packaged foodstuff.

The speaker also called for the employment of more people for the effective implementation of government policies, as well as effective youth engagement through sports and related activities.

He said: “It is important for us to apply the right indices towards ensuring a performing and functioning budget that would lift our people out of poverty and reposition the state towards infrastructural growth and renewal. Palliatives should move from just giving people ‘garri’, rice, beans or even money. We should have a direction that is focused, impactful and deeply backed up by effective policy implementations.

“Medicines should be provided at all public hospitals at subsidised rates, and focus should be on the downward review of treatment costs..”

Mohbad: Naira Marley accuses Iyabo Ojo of defamation, demands N500m.

Mohbad: Naira Marley accuses Iyabo Ojo of defamation, demands N500m.




Nigerian entertainer, Afeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has taken legal action against actress, Iyabo Ojo, alleging the dissemination of false and defamatory content on her Instagram account.


In a letter sent to Ojo, Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, outlined the accusations made in a September 2023 post, stating that the actress accused Naira Marley of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.


The lawyer further asserted that Ojo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom he referred to as a brother.


Naira Marley’s attorney is seeking a redress of N500 million from Ojo and a public apology.


The counsel asked that the apology be posted on Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.


According to Naira Marley’s lawyer, failure to adhere to the condition placed before her would force them to file a lawsuit against her.

 

The letter in part reads, “We are Solicitors to Azeez Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) an internationally renowned British and Nigerian Singer/Artist with over seven million followers hereinafter referred to as our client pursuant to whose instruction we write concerning the aboveheaded subject matter.


“It is necessary to preface this letter by stating that in recognition of the iconic status of our client, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) engaged him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.

 

“It is our instruction that sometime in September 2023, you maliciously and falsely published of and concerning our client on your official instagram handle ‘iyaboojofespris’ the following words: and destroying their lives and leaving them without a kobo to get help…….you go still explain taya bcos evidence dey, that your interview you go still re do am again…….make we get justice for Mohbad first”.


“It is unarguably clear that the above quoted words are in their ordinary and natural meanings meant or were understood to mean by ordinary right thinking members of the public that have read the post that our Client is a drug addict and that he laced the food and drinks which our Client gave to the boys staying with him with drugs with the resultant effect of occasioning monumental destruction of their lives.

 

“Your publication of the above words on the internet which is readily accessible to users of the system constituted a very serious libel and has caused our client colossal damage to his reputation.


“It is incontestably clear that the above-quoted publication which has been read by countless internet users globally is defamatory of our Client and has brought him to public ridicule and contempt with the resultant damage to our Client’s reputation.

 

“It is our further instruction that since the publication our Client has been inundated with calls from his followers, colleagues, friends and fans all over the world who had read the post expressing their disgust and dismay at the defamatory and libellous publication you had maliciously and falsely posted on your official instagram handle “iyaboojofespris” of and concerning our Client.”

US House launches Republican impeachment inquiry against Biden.

US House launches Republican impeachment inquiry against Biden.



The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, escalating Republicans’ battle with Democrats ahead of the 2024 election in a move Biden himself slammed as a “baseless” stunt.

Republicans, seizing on Biden’s son Hunter’s controversial international dealings, have yet to provide evidence of corruption by the president, and the Democratic-led Senate would be unlikely to convict him even if the inquiry did lead to an actual impeachment trial.Regardless, the procedure guarantees Republicans a new, high-profile platform to attack Biden as he campaigns for reelection — and to distract from the federal criminal trials facing his almost certain challenger Donald Trump.

The vote of 221 to 212 was along strict party lines, with every Republican voting for it and every Democrat against.

Conservatives accuse Biden’s troubled son Hunter of influence-peddling — effectively trading on the family name in pay-to-play schemes during his business dealings in Ukraine and China.

The allegations against Hunter Biden refer to incidents that took place before his father became president, and the White House has stressed there has been no wrongdoing.

Biden himself responded immediately after the vote, accusing Republicans of stalling on key fronts — such as funding government — while obsessing over scoring political points ahead of the election.

“Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies,” Biden said in a statement.


“Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.”

“As President Biden continues to stonewall lawful Congressional subpoenas, today’s vote of the full House of Representatives authorizing the inquiry puts us in the strongest position to enforce these subpoenas in court,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of Republican leadership.

“The American people deserve answers,” they said in a joint statement. “This impeachment inquiry will help us find them.”


Hunter Biden, whose chaotic personal life and business dealings have become a magnet for right-wing conspiracy theories and media investigations, issued an angry statement in Washington.

“My father was not financially involved in my business,” he said.


A Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist whose life has been marred by personal tragedy, alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction, Hunter Biden was speaking to reporters from Capitol Hill, after refusing to attend a closed-door hearing led by Republicans just inside.

Egged on by Trump — who was impeached twice, including for his attempts to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss to Biden — the Republican Party first began probing a possible Biden impeachment earlier this year. Hearings began late September, leading to the decision to hold Wednesday’s vote.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer charged Wednesday that the investigations so far have “revealed how Joe Biden knew of, participated in, and benefited from his family cashing in on the Biden name around the world.”

Experts interviewed during the proceedings, however, said there was no evidence to justify a Biden impeachment. And Democrats say the Republicans are playing pure politics.

“There is zero evidence that President Biden has engaged in any wrongdoing,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday.

The US Constitution provides that Congress may remove a president for “treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Impeachment by the House, which is the political equivalent of a criminal indictment, would spark a trial by the Senate, with the president losing his job if convicted — an unlikely scenario for Biden given the chamber’s Democratic control.

Although three US presidents have been impeached — Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Trump in 2019 and 2021 — none has ever been removed from office by the Senate.

AFP

Congo opposition candidate suspends presidential campaign after violence.

Congo opposition candidate suspends presidential campaign after violence.

One of the main opposition candidates for Congo’s presidential election next week, Moise Katumbi, suspended part of his campaign on Wednesday after violent clashes at one of his election rallies.


Live rounds were fired and several people were injured as Katumbi addressed supporters in the coastal town of Moanda on Tuesday, marking an escalation in tension ahead of the Dec. 20 vote. There are differing accounts of the incident.


The provincial government said in a statement that Katumbi’s guards fired warning shots after the crowd grew rowdy, stoking tension and jostling. The police used tear gas to restore order.


Several people were injured, including a police officer who was seriously hurt, and investigations into the incident are ongoing, the statement said.


Katumbi said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that police shot live bullets at people and that the incident had been orchestrated to create violence.


“In order to avoid further provocation, I have decided to temporarily suspend my meeting with citizens in (the cities of) Kananga and Tshikapa,” he said, referring to events scheduled for Wednesday.


Kananga and Tshikapa are in the Kasai-Central province, which is a stronghold for President Felix Tshisekedi’s supporters.


Almost 44 million people are registered to vote in an election that will determine whether Tshisekedi will remain in office after a first term characterised by economic hardship and insecurity


Katumbi is one of more than two dozen candidates in the presidential race that also includes leading opposition candidate Martin Fayulu and Nobel Peace Prize-winning gynaecologist Denis Mukwege.


There have been several challenges in the run-up to the polls, including alleged irregularities in voter registration and difficulty distributing voting materials. 


Reuters/NAN