THE INSIDER: How Amaechi got Buhari to suspend Hadiza Bala Usman amid ‘cold war’

At a time when shocking news has become a daily occurrence, Nigerians got an extra dose on Thursday evening when President Muhammadu Buhari asked Hadiza Bala Usman to “step aside” as the managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said this was to allow for an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the “management”. All members of the panel were appointed by Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation who supervises NPA. Curiously, only Bala Usman, who had been having a cold battle with Amaechi, was asked to step aside, effectively suggesting that she, and not the management, is the target of the investigation. To act as MD is Mohammed Koko, who was the Zenith Bank accounts officer to Rivers state government when Amaechi was governor. Koko was appointed executive director of NPA in 2016 when Amaechi became minister. He is in charge of finance and admin, a logical target for the probe, given that the allegations to be investigated fall directly under his department. Two members on the administrative panel named so far are from the …

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Buhari describes death of Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan as a huge loss

By Chris Udochukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the death of his former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, describing it as a huge loss not only to the female gender activist community but to the country as a whole. The Senior Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) Garba Shehu disclosed this in a statement released via his twitter handle on Friday. According to the statement Buhari said that both in office and out of office, late Al-Hassan’s concern for the education of the girl child, especially those of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists, shone through. The statement reads: President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply saddened by the death of Hajiya Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, “Mama Taraba’’, who was Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development during his first term in office. The Nigerian Mission in Cairo, Egypt, announced the passing of the former minister and Senator. President Buhari said: “The demise of the notable politician, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan has left many saddened. …

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Aisha Alhassan was an astute politician, patriot – Atiku

By Our Reporter Abuja (Precise Post) – The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general election and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has grieved over the death of former Minister of Women Affairs, Sen. Aisha Alhassan who passed on today at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Atiku described the late Mama Taraba as an accomplished civil servant, astute politician and patriot who was compassionate, loyal and deeply committed to a better Nigeria. The former Vice President who took to his twitter handle to express sadness, prayed Allah to forgive her sins and grant her Aljannah Fiddausi in this holy month. His tweets read: “I am grieved by the death of former Minister of Women Affairs, Sen. Aisha Alhassan. I asked about her condition this afternoon after I called her number without a response! Inna lillahi wainna Ilaihi Rajiun! “May Allah forgive her sins and grant her Aljannah Fiddausi in this holy month. Ameen. “Mama Taraba as she was popularly known, was an accomplished civil servant, astute politician and patriot. She was compassionate, loyal and deeply committed …

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Aisha Jummai Alhassan, former Women Affairs Minister, Is Dead

Abuja – Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, former Minister of Women Affairs during the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari is dead. Popularly called ‘Mama Taraba’, Jummai Alhassan was a member of the 7th Senate having been elected on the platform of the PDP. She later dumped the party for APC and was the governorship candidate of the party in the 2015 elections in Taraba State. According a report from Leadership Newspapers, she died in a Cairo hospital, Egypt. Details Later….

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It’s wrong to blame APC govt for insecurity, says Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday, said it was wrong for Nigerians to blame the current insecurity in the country on the All Progressives Congress-led government. The former Governor of Rivers State insisted that it was a misnomer for anybody to claim that banditry was caused by the current regime led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), when in reality, “the past leaders should be held responsible for mismanaging the resources of the country”. Amaechi spoke in Jos on Friday while commissioning the North Central Coordinating Office complex of the Nigerian Shippers Council and visual presentation of the proposed Maritime Resource Centre in Plateau State. Exonerating the APC regime from the current challenges facing Nigeria, Amaechi said, “The earlier Nigerians began to take people who can perform, the better. The reason we are doing this project is so that we can reduce banditry and insecurity because if you don’t create jobs, you will not reduce crime. “The reason why there is crime is because the rich men who had run the economy of Nigeria for years …

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BREAKING: 11 members of IPOB’s ESN killed in Imo –Army

The Nigerian Army has said it neutralised 11 members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, who launched an attack on the police command of the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday night. Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Friday, said the assailants were members of IPOB’s Eastern Security Network. The statement was titled, ‘Security Forces Foil Another Attack On Police Area Command In Imo State…Eleven IPOB/ESN Terrorists Neutralised, Arms, Ammunition, Operational Vehicles Recovered’. It read, “A gang of IPOB/ESN terrorists mounted in vehicles on Thursday, 6 May 2021, stormed Orlu town with intention to attack the compound housing the Area Command and Police Station in Orlu LGA of Imo State. “The attackers were resisted by vigilant police personnel at the Area Command and were completely obliterated when a reinforcement team of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force arrived the scene. “The assailants who have been on the radar of the Joint Technical Intelligence Team were said to have come from a Forest Camp in Ideato North LGA of Imo …

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If Tinubu Becomes President, I’ll Cease To Be Nigerian – Bode George

Bode George, the National vice-chairman in the southwest zone of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has said that he will stop being a Nigerian if the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu become President. George said this on Friday May 7, while featuring on a Channels Television programme. He also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos state governor and his alleged involvement with Alpha Beta Consulting, a tax firm. The PDP Chieftain said; “I’ve talked about it and I’m still saying publicly that the EFCC should go urgently and investigate Alpha Beta Company owned by him. Let me say it in very clear language, to me it’s an insult to de-civilise the people of this country who are committed to national development that the likes of him want to run this country. We must make sure that they investigate him. He’s junketing all over the place—an insult to the civilised minds who work so hard in this country. If, by whatever yardstick, he becomes the head of state, …

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INEC fixes bye-election to replace Kaduna absentee lawmaker

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated the bye-election into Sabo Gari State Constituency of Kaduna State for June 19. The seat was declared vacant after the lawmaker, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, absconded from sitting. According to a statement by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a communication from the Kaduna State House of Assembly which declared the seat of the Member representing Sabon Gari State Constituency, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, vacant”. It added: “According to the State Assembly, the vacancy occurred as a result of the Hon Member’s absence without just cause from one-third of the meetings of the Assembly for one year in contravention of Section 109 (1)[f] and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). “Consequently, the Commission has fixed Saturday 19th June 2021 for the conduct of bye-election to fill the vacant seat for Sabon Gari Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. “The official notification for the election will be published on 17th May …

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Sanwo-Olu: Lagos completed 1,097 school projects in 2 years

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said his administration has completed over 1,097 projects in 970 primary and secondary schools in the past two years. The government also built and rehabilitated 322 dilapidated schools – including five new schools – and supplied 87,000 dual composite units of furniture to primary and secondary schools. He spoke on Thursday at inauguration of a new block of 10 classrooms at the Akintan Junior Grammar School, Surulere – one of four school projects he inaugurated. Sanwo-Olu, who had earlier visited the other three schools (Fazil Omar Senior High School, weeIwaya; Onike Girls’Junior High School, Yaba and Igbobi Junior High School, Simply), also said that 100 Lagos schools would soon get fibre optics installed for internet connection. He said the investment in education was his administration’s effort to build the right quality of human capital needed to service Lagos as a mega city. He said: “We are flagging off these school infrastructural projects to deliver 300 classrooms and seven new hostel blocks in some of our schools. “The projects being commissioned today include a block of 18 …

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Bala-Usman’s suspension: Maritime stakeholders back FG’s action

Some maritime stakeholders in Lagos, on Friday, backed the Federal Government’s suspension of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), saying it had the right to hire and fire anyone in its establishment. The stakeholders were reacting to the suspension of the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman on May 6, by President Muhammadu Buhari, to pave the way for an administrative inquiry of the NPA management. The President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, late on Thursday, announced the approval of the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rotimi Amaechi, for an administrative panel of inquiry on the NPA management, as well as the suspension the Managing Director. Similarly, Shehu also announced the appointment of Mohammed Koko as acting Managing Director of the NPA, pending the completion of the investigation by the panel, to be headed by a Director. The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry, while the Deputy Director, Legal of the ministry will serve as Secretary. Capt. Tony Onoharigho, President, Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS), …

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Cops repel attack on Imo police station, kill eight hoodlums

Joint security operatives on Thursday night killed no fewer than eight hoodlums after they resisted an attack on Orlu Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo state from unknown gunmen. Also, the joint security operatives recovered seven vehicles the attackers came in for the operation. Our correspondent gathered that the gun battle between the gunmen and the security operatives lasted several hours, as the military sent reinforcement from the 34 artillery brigade, Obinze, in Owerri. The gun duel created an atmosphere of panic, as people scampered for safety, as the Roads in Orlu town and its environs were deserted. A resident of the area who preferred not to be mentioned told our correspondent that “we slept with our hearts in our hands last night”. He said an Armoured Personnel Carrier was allegedly set ablaze at Umuna junction in Orlu town. He also disclosed that one of his cousins was hit by a stray bullet. The Police Spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, could not be reached but a senior police officer confirmed the development to our correspondent. The senior police officer told …

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COVID-19: British Airways seeks amendment to flight restrictions

The Chief Executive Officer of International Airlines Group, Luis Gallego, has pleaded with the British Government to amend flight restrictions. British Airways is under the IAG and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions have been placed on flights and this has caused a major loss for airlines. According to DailyMail, Gallego said the airline lost about £1.1bn in the last ‘one year’, as he pleaded that people who are vaccinated or have been tested should travel “without restrictions.” Gallego asked for the implementation of travel corridors – allowing passengers to travel without having to quarantine on arrival nor upon their return- between countries, with reference to the “successful vaccination rollouts and effective testing, such as the UK and the US”. “We believe that the Government needs to be a bit ambitious in getting global travel back on track and bring the benefits of all the efforts that the Government and people have done with the vaccination rollout,” Gallego said. “I think they need to recognise that people who are vaccinated or have been tested can travel without restrictions,” Gallego said. …

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How police ambushed me in Abuja, whisked me to Makurdi on Ortom’s orders over statement on poor handling of insecurity – Ode, Journalist

A journalist, Sunday Ode, who was arrested and detained on the orders of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, recalls his ordeal in this interview with OLALEKAN ADETAYO It was learnt that you recently had an encounter with some policemen. When was this and where? My name is Egena Sunday Ode. I am a journalist based in Abuja. Yes, I had a bitter encounter with some policemen on Friday, April 30, 2021, near the popular AYA roundabout in Abuja around 5.30pm. How did it happen? Around 3pm that day, I received a distress call from my cousin, Johnson Ubeh, that he was being held by some police personnel over an alleged contract that he failed to execute. The policemen had earlier pulled him out of his shop on the pretext that they were going to give him a contract. But when he went out to meet them, they changed the story to failure to deliver on a contractual agreement. As their conversation continued, they asked if he knew me and he responded in the affirmative. They were able to establish …

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BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds INEC’s deregistration of 74 political parties

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal which okayed the deregistration of National Unity Party and 73 others. The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission last year deregistered the political parties over their inability to win any election during the 2019 general elections. Catholic Church should dismiss Mbaka, he’s author of confusion –OmokriReps reject bill to reduce cases getting to Supreme CourtIn the judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, the Supreme Court, on Friday, said the deregistration of NUP, one of the 74 parties, was done in line with the laws and compliance with the extant provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act. Details later… Source

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No request to evacuate Nigerians from volcanic Caribbean Island —FG

The Federal Government has said that there is no request for the evacuation of the Nigerians who are stranded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines due to the volcanic eruption in the country. It, however, acknowledged that the Nigerian Community is in need of relief materials as it is affected by the impact of the natural disaster in the country. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, titled, ‘ Situation Of Nigerian Nationals In St, Vincent And The Grenadines.’ The statement read, “Consequent to recent media reports alleging that Nigerian Nationals are stranded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which is attributed to the volcanic eruption in the Caribbean Island, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to make the following clarifications: “First and foremost, the Island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is under the coverage of the Nigerian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago. Secondly, the Nigerian Mission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago is in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Community Association in …

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