Category Nigeria News

On Monday, residents of the Ilu-Abo community in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State peacefully protested a recent increase in kidnappings, blocking the Airport-Owo Expressway, and causing heavy traffic along the axis.

Oladeinde Tomilola, a middle-aged woman, was abducted on Sunday night at the home’s entrance, and the protest came after that.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers, who are believed to be armed, shot at her car before escorting her away.

Two neighbors who attempted to intervene were shot in the stomach and one in the head during the attack.

Both victims received urgent medical care at a nearby hospital.

Additionally, a woman and her 11-year-old daughter reportedly suffered varying injuries as a result of the gunfire.

READ ALSO: Police Arrested A 65-Year-Old Woman For Providing Drugs to Terrorists In Borno

Protesters gathered early on Monday to demand immediate government intervention in response to the worsening security situation, including youths, women, and community leaders, and chant solidarity songs.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Jimoh, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed the incidents, stating that they took place in distinct but related incidents.

One John Ofuduwa was shot and killed while driving into his home in a Toyota Camry saloon car with Abuja registration number GWA 674 CM, according to him when six armed men, whose identities are still unknown, opened fire on him. He was seriously hurt by a gunshot wound.

A middle-aged woman, Oladeinde Tomilola, who was also about to enter her compound, was abducted by the attackers, according to Jimoh, adding that a woman’s daughter, 11, and two other people, who were also hurt by stray bullets, also suffered injuries.

On Monday, Ondo State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, visited the area to assess the situation and speak with residents.

Suanu Baridam, the Paramount Ruler of the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was just a few meters away from being killed when gunmen opened fire on his convoy.

On Sunday evening, the first-class traditional ruler was attacked as he left a meeting with the Okwale community in Khana.

Read more about the One Dead, Eight Shot in Rivers Shooting As Police Arrest Suspects

Along the Tekar Sogho Road, which connects the area to the East–West Road, an incident occurred around 5:30 p.m.

The assailants attempted to stop the monarch’s vehicle between Taabaa Junction and Sogho, according to eyewitness accounts.

The gunmen reportedly opened fire on the car when the driver refused to stop.

His driver also suffered gunshot wounds in the attack, and the monarch’s leg was also injured.

The traditional ruler is currently receiving medical care, while the other was taken urgently to the hospital for treatment.

Police launch a probe

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident in a press release on Monday, stating that unknown gunmen stormed the monarch’s black Prado Jeep and attacked the vehicle, destroying the windscreen and other components.

The victim was identified as King T. Y. Baridam, the Paramount Ruler of Bangha Community, and police identified him as King T. Y. Baridam.

Although the attackers’ motive for the attack is still unknown, according to sources, there are strong indications that the assailants intended to kill the traditional ruler.

King Baridam has survived an assassination attempt for the second time.

The police claimed patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the location to comb the area and locate the attackers.

The Rivers State Police Command has launched an investigation into the incident and will make no mistakes in prosecuting the suspects, according to the statement.

Additionally, the Command urged people to remain calm and provide credible information that would help security agencies with their inquiries.

In an effort to improve bilateral relations between the two nations, President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.

On Monday, the President made his way to the visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, arriving at around 2:05 p.m.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated in a statement on Sunday that the visit aims to intensify cooperation in key areas like security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.

Onanuga noted that the trip comes in the wake of Recep Tayyip Erdoan’s earlier official visit to Nigeria in October 20 and 20, 2021, which boosted relations between Abuja and Ankara.

Read more:  Tinubu Will Take a Trip to Turkey On Monday.

Both nations are expected to engage in strategic political and diplomatic missions centered on interconnected financial, trade, and investment goals during President Tinubu’s visit.

Additionally, the program will feature senior government officials from both countries signing memoranda of understandings (MoUs) covering protocol, media and communications, energy, technical cooperation, and protocol.

The presidency noted that a business forum will be held on the day of the visit to discuss potential opportunities for reciprocal economic growth among Nigerian and Turkish investors.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa (rtd), and Jimi Benson, the chairman of the House Committee on Defence, are all members of the President’s delegation.

The Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed Mohammed, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy are also present.

In an effort to improve bilateral relations between the two nations, President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.

On Monday, the President made his way to the visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, arriving at around 2:05 p.m.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated in a statement on Sunday that the visit aims to intensify cooperation in key areas like security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.

Onanuga noted that the trip comes in the wake of Recep Tayyip Erdoan’s earlier official visit to Nigeria in October 20 and 20, 2021, which boosted relations between Abuja and Ankara.

Read more:  Tinubu Will Take a Trip to Turkey On Monday.

Both nations are expected to engage in strategic political and diplomatic missions centered on interconnected financial, trade, and investment goals during President Tinubu’s visit.

Additionally, the program will feature senior government officials from both countries signing memoranda of understandings (MoUs) covering protocol, media and communications, energy, technical cooperation, and protocol.

The presidency noted that a business forum will be held on the day of the visit to discuss potential opportunities for reciprocal economic growth among Nigerian and Turkish investors.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa (rtd), and Jimi Benson, the chairman of the House Committee on Defence, are all members of the President’s delegation.

The Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed Mohammed, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy are also present.

Due to technical and legal issues, Diezani Alison-Madueke’s trial in London’s corruption case began on Monday, according to lawyers.

Also read: Ex-Minister Diezani Reappears In London Court for “£100, 000 Bribery” Trial.

The 65-year-old, who became the first woman to lead OPEC between 2010 and 2015, when Goodluck Jonathan was the country’s president, is accused of accepting five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiring to commit bribery.

According to lawyers, the trial may not begin until Tuesday because both the prosecution and defense teams need to come to terms with specific evidence that may or may not be examined during the proceedings and decide who the jurors will be.

Between 2011 and 2015, Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting “financial or other advantages” from individuals connected to the SPOG Petrochemical and Atlantic Energy companies.

These included £100, 000 ($137, 000) in cash, staff costs at several London properties, furniture, chauffeur-driven cars, and a private jet flight to Nigeria.

Other allegations include receiving bribes, including school expenses for her son, Louis Vuitton and other high-end products from Harrods and other outlets.

According to the indictment, accepting these bribes constituted “improper performance” of her duties as oil minister.

Before the trial, which is scheduled to last 10 to 12 weeks, she made an appearance in a London court last week for preliminary proceedings, including jury selection and technical matters.

On bribery-related bribery-related charges, two others, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing charges.

“Power Abuse”

Since her initial arrest in London in October 2015, Alison-Madueke has been on bail.

She has denied the accusations leveled at her.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), she was formally charged with accepting bribes in 2023.

Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly misused her position in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for signing multi-million-pound deals, according to the NCA at the time.

The NCA, which targets organized crime and serious international crime, announced earlier in 2023 that it had provided evidence to US prosecutors allowing them to recover assets worth $53.1 million related to Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.

According to the US Department of Justice, the documents included a 65-meter (213-foot) superyacht, the Galactica Star, as well as expensive real estate in California and New York, as well as.

Alison-Madueke studied architecture in the oil city of Port Harcourt in 1960 before working for Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary. She was born to a wealthy family in Port Harcourt.

She served three significant political positions, first as Minister of Mines and Steel Development and then as Minister of Mines and Steel Development in 2007.

In April 2010, Jonathan appointed her Minister of Petroleum Resources after Yar’Adua passed away.

She became the first woman to lead OPEC in 2014, a position she held for about a year.

A request to stop Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) employees from continuing their ongoing strike has been delayed until January 27th, according to the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

After hearing the counsel’s opinions of both parties, Justice Emmanuel Subilim adjourned the case for decision.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is suing the court to compel the stricken FCTA workers to resign from their jobs, filed the lawsuit.

The workers started the strike because of allegedly unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid pay for five months, long-standing promotions, and unfavorable working conditions.

READ ALSO: FCTA, FCDA Workers Start Strike Over “Unmet Demands,” Shut Down Operations.

The FCT Minister and the FCTA are named as defendants in the lawsuit, while Rifkatu Iortyer, the JUAC’s president and secretary, and Abdullahi Saleh are named as defendants.

Maxwell Okpara, the defendants’ attorney, urged the court to join the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as respondents, contending that their inclusion would impose any ruling of the court on them.

However, James Onoja, SAN, the FCT Minister’s attorney, refrained from submitting the request, arguing only that the two defendants’ suits were legitimately brought against them. He also noted that they are not registered under the Trade Union Act.

Onoja argued that the Federal Capital Territory’s essential services have been undermined by the industrial action and demanded that the court grant the request and order the striking workers to go back to work.

Justice Subilim ruled in his decision regarding the joinder application that the court couldn’t compel the defendants to add more defendants because the claimants had chosen to sue only the two defendants.