Month: October 2021

Abuja – Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, aothor of “The Son of the House” has been announced as the winner of the $100,000 NLNG Literature Prize for 2021. Ms Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s novel, The Son of the House, was announced the winner at a ceremony Saturday night. Earlier in July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the NLNG had shortlisted 11 authors, including Ms Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, for this year’s edition of the prize. See the July statement announcing the initial shortlist below. The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature has announced the shortlist of 11 drawn from 202 books in the running for the 2021 edition of the prize. The 11 books on the shortlist, in alphabetical order by the title of the book, are: Delusion of Patriots, Obianuju V. Chukwuorji Give Us Each Day, Samuel Monye Imminent River, Anaele Ihuoma In The Name of Our Father, Olukorede S. Yishau Mountain of Yesterday, Tony Nwaka Neglected, Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma The Colours of Hatred, Obinna Udenwa The Girl with The Louding Voice, Abi Dare The Return of Half- Something, Chukwudi Eze The Son of The House, Cheluchi …

Minna – The Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examination Council, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, has said that eight northern states owe the examination body to the tune of N 1.8 billion. Wushishi, said this on Saturday while speaking to journalists in Minna, stating that the debt piled up from state governments who promise to pay examination fees for their citizens but fail to remit the money. He said, “State governments offer to pay examination fees for candidates from their states but when it comes to the actual payment, they don’t do it, and that has strapped NECO. “Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Gombe, Borno and Niger state governments are owing the examination body N1.8 billion debt for the students they registered in 2019.” He stated that the Council had not withheld the results of the defaulting states in the spirit of mutual respect, togetherness, and understanding, noting that the examination body had engaged the states in dialogue towards an amicable resolution of the matter. Wushishi appealed to the governors of the six Northern states to meet their obligations by settling their …

Abuja – Contrary to speculations, the police authorities have not recalled the erstwhile Commander of the Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, who has been on suspension since July 31, following his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There had been reports that Kyari had been secretly recalled by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba. But police sources confirmed that the deputy commissioner of police is still on suspension. Kyari had been under investigation for allegedly fraternising with a suspected Internet fraudster, Abbas Ramon, commonly known as Hushpuppi. The FBI alleged that Kyari connived with Hushpuppi to defraud a Qatari businessman of $1.1 million. While speaking with State House correspondent in Abuja, on Thursday, the IGP said Kyari had been queried, adding that the police were working closely with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation to discharge the appropriate sanction on Kyari. He also explained that the panel constituted to investigate the case had submitted its report to the SGF, Boss Mustapha, for vetting and advice on the …

Callistus Agwaza Jalingo (Precise Post) – Twenty six years old girl, Clara Joseph has drowned at Suite 11 Hotel Swimming pool in Jalingo, Taraba state. An eye witness who spoke to Sunday Sun said that the lady and her friends were swimming at the paid swimming pool when they noticed she was missing. “We were at the pool this evening swimming when we noticed that she was struggling in the deep end of the pool. We immediately called the pool manager that someone was drowning but he said he does not know how to swim. We were just there trying frantically to get someone who could help to no avail. She was in the water for over thirty minutes before her lifeless body was eventually dragged out.” The elder brother to the late Clara, Mr Jacob Joseph who confirmed the sad incident to our correspondent said that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Center Jalingo to be deposited at the Morgue. The terribly shaken Joseph said he was surprised that a hotel in the league of Suite …

Abuja – The Concerned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, South-East chapter, has condemned the Friday raid of the residence of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, by security operatives, saying it is yet another frontal attack on the independence and integrity of the Judiciary. The SANs said the consistent and systematic attacks of the Judiciary by the Executive arm of government is clearly in breach of the constitutional protection of judges and the Judiciary, adding that they are aimed at emasculating the Judiciary. This is as they pointed out that in view of the constitutionally guaranteed doctrine of independence of the Judiciary, no security agency or prosecuting authority in Nigeria has the power to investigate, arrest, or prosecute a sitting judicial officer without first referring the matter to the National Judicial Council, and await the directive of the Council This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by Professor Ilochi Okafor (SAN). Mr. Etigwe Uwa (SAN), and Mr. Chijioke Okoli (SAN). The statement read in part, “We recall similar raids by the EFCC, the DSS and other security operatives …

Abuja – Report reaching Precise Post has it that security forces have eliminated several bandits and destroyed their camps during clearance operations in Igabi and Chikun Local Government Area of Kauna State. The State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, October 29, said that one Rabi Hajiya Karime, the wife of a notorious bandit Zubairu and bandit’s spiritual leader were also arrested. “The clearance operations were conducted in Faka, Katuka, Barebari and Maguzawa general areas, spanning Chikun and Igabi LGAs,” he stated. “An unconfirmed number of bandits were sighted on the high ground across the Maguzawa river; they were engaged by a NAF attack helicopter, and neutralized “Furthermore, the security forces conducted clearance patrols to Katuka, about 9km from Kangon Kadi in Chikun LGA “During the destruction of camps, one fleeing bandit was apprehended, with the following items recovered; one motorcycle, one AK-47 riflle, and 30 rounds of ammunition. “During a subsequent clearance operation to Kangon Kadi and Barebari areas, one Rabi Hajiya Karime, the wife of a notorious …

Abuja – The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Saturday distanced himself from the reported invasion of the residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili, by security operatives. He also ordered a probe into the circumstances surrounding the raid of the justice’s home. A statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said the clarification became imperative in view of the media hype and the dimension the story had taken. He said, “It is important to set the record straight that as the Chief Law Officer of the federation, Malami will not stoop too low to be associated with an apparent in-elegant and nasty court process on the strength of which the purported search warrant was procured. “The media reports on the issue depict too untidy process that could never emanate from the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.” He said the general public needs to know that there was nothing called Joint Panel Recovery Under the Ministry of Justice …

By Our Reporter The national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party has commenced at Eagle square, Abuja. The event started at 1.05pm with the national anthem, followed by Christian and Islamic prayers. Delegates from the 36 states of the Federation and FCT are seated according to their states. Earlier before the event started, Governors on the platform of the Party arrived at the Eagles Square venue of the national convention at different times. Those who have arrived include Governor of Adamawa State and Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. The Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe; and senators Philip Aduda, Biodun Olujimi and Obinna Ogba are among the lawmakers present at the venue. Meanwhile, security operatives are making frantic efforts to secure life and property in and around the Eagles Square and the Federal Secretariat by extension. While the operatives have blocked the roads around the venue to limit vehicular movements to the VIPs, fire vans and ambulances …