Nedu Echianu's Blog

Yet to be identified persons have reportedly strangled  Captain Abdukkarim Bala Na’Allah, said to be the eldest son of Senator Bala Na’Allah. He was killed by the hoodlums in his Malali (GRA) residence in Kaduna North Local Government Area on Sunday. Senator Na’Allah represents Kebbi South Senatorial seat in the Senate and was the Deputy Majority leader in the Eighth Senate. An aide to Senator Na’Allah, Malam Garba Mohammed, confirmed the killing of the trained pilot.

Veteran musician, Victor Uwaifo is dead, his son, Peter De Rock confirmed on social media. Peter took to Facebook to announce the death of his father saying, “Daddy why do you leave us now? Prof. Victor Uwaifo has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me now.” Before his demise, Victor Uwaifo was a professor of visual arts at the University of Benin. Punch

Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus. United have agreed to pay £12.8m for the 36-year-old, with the deal subject to personal terms, a visa and a medical. Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games in his first spell at Old Trafford before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009. "Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester," said a  United statement. United's announcement came after a dramatic 24 hours. Neighbours Manchester City had looked to be one of the favourites to land the forward and some  reports suggested  personal terms had already been agreed between the two. However, Ronaldo has opted to return to United where he spent six years and won three Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups and one FA Cup - as well as the Fifa Club World Cup and Community Shield - under Sir Alex Ferguson. Initially, Ronaldo thought there was no chance of a

The Federal Government has written to Chief Medical Directors and Managing Directors of federal tertiary hospitals, asking them to begin the implementation of no-work, no-pay policy concerning the striking members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. The government’s directive was contained in a letter dated August 26, 2021 signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi. The letter was titled “Application of Section 43(1) (A) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8, Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LGN) 2004 (no work no pay) partly.” It reads, “The ministry is in receipt of the letter from the Ministry of Labour and Employment informing the ministry of the laws governing the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and the need to immediately apply the provisions of the Section 43 (1) (a) of the Trade Dispute Act on ‘special provision with respect to payment of wages during strike and lockouts’ known

Operatives of the Department of State Services, on Thursday, dispersed medical doctors, who stormed the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, to take part in the recruitment interview organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Reports say medical consultants in their hundreds flooded the Ladi Kwali Hall of the hotel to participate in the recruitment, while another exercise was scheduled for Thursday. However, the DSS operatives stormed the hotel on Thursday morning and dispersed the doctors and journalists, who gathered at the venue. A journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Marcus Fatunde, was arrested at the venue. Fatunde was, however, released later. Punch newspaper quoted an eyewitness as saying, “When I came here, we saw the DSS operatives dispersing the people that came for the interview and before we knew it, everywhere had been scattered. “A journalist with the ICIR, Marcus Fatunde, was also arrested, but he has been released.” A doct

The Department of State Services has denied arresting two Channels Television reporters over alleged anti-Buhari comments made by two guests during the station’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme. DSS Spokesman, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘No Channels Television Reporters Were Arrested By The DSS’. Some online media organisatios had reported that two presenters of the programme, Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu, were picked up by the secret police after separate interviews with the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; and a former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi. But Afunanya said, “The attention of the DSS has been drawn to news making the rounds in some sections of the media that its operatives earlier today (26th August, 2021) arrested two (2) journalists of Channels Television. This is false and misleading. Fake news peddlers should shun the act.” Meanwhile, the National Broadcasting Commission “invited” the presenters to

Justice Nusirat Umar of the Kebbi State High Court has ordered Uche Secondus to return to his position as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Giving the order in a suit brought before her in Birinin Kebbi, the state capital in case KB/AC/M. 170/2021, Justice Umar said she was satisfied after reading the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order should be granted on the purported suspension of Secondus pending the determination of the case. Secondus and the PDP are first and second respondents respectively in the suit brought before the court by three claimants and members of the party: Yahaya Usman, Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar Suleman. Recall that Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division vacation court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had granted an interim injunction restraining Secondus from parading himself as chairman and member of the PDP. This was sequel to the consideration of an ex parte application in suit No: PHC/21

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday ratified the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi as the Acting National Chairman of the party in line with the party’s constitution. Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin announced this decision after an emergency meeting of the Board, in Abuja. He said, “Since our last meeting, there have been several meeting by stakeholders to ensure sanity returns to the party. “The BoT approved Elder Yemi Akinwonmi as acting National Chairman. “Was pleased with the resolution of leadership squabble in the NWC which signals return of unity to the party. “The peaceful resolution of issues around the party will put PDP detractors to shame.” He further said, “Akinwonmi has been affirmed as acting Chairman in line with the Constitution of the party, that the BoT and the Caucus will meet tomorrow Friday, and NEC will hold on Saturday. “That the meeting endorsed the agreement reached during the

Premier League champions Manchester City have been drawn to face Paris St-Germain, RB Leipzig and Club Bruges in the Champions League group stage. Holders Chelsea come up against Serie A giants Juventus, Russian club Zenit St Petersburg and Swedish side Malmo. Manchester United face Villarreal, who beat them in last season's Europa League final, as well as Italian club Atalanta and Swiss side Young Boys. Liverpool are in a tough group with Atletico Madrid, Porto and AC Milan. Group stage draw in full: Group A: Manchester City, Paris St-Germain, RB Leipzig, Club Bruges Group B: Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan Group C: Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas Group D: Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff Tiraspol Group E: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv Group F: Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys Group G: Lille, Sevilla, FC Salzburg, Wolfsburg Group H: Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg,

Former Minister of Aviation and current Senator representing Anambra North, Stella Oduah has defected the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP); pitching tent with the All Progressives Congress (APC). Oduah's officially made the switch shortly after meeting with the Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee(CECPC), Mai Malama Buni in Abuja on Thursday. Speaking to journalists at the end of the very brief ceremonies also witnessed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Oduah said her decision to leave the PDP for APC was dictated by the need to engage in progressive politics for her constituency and the people of Anambra State. The Governor of Imo State and Chairman, APC Campaign Committee on Anambra Election, Hope UZODINMA is believed to have facilitated the Oduah's defection  from the PDP to the APC to strengthen the chances of the party and its candidate, Andy Uba in the forthcoming Nove

The National Broadcasting Commission has queried  Channels Television  over what it described as “inciting, divisive and unfair comments” made by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on the TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme on Tuesday. NBC made this known in a letter to the television station titled, ‘Notice of Infraction’. The regulator’s letter was dated August 24, 2021, and signed by its Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah. Ortom, who was a guest on the TV programme on Tuesday morning, had said, “Mr President is pushing me to think that what they say about him, that he has a hidden agenda in this country is true because it is very clear that he wants to fulanise but he is not the first Fulani president. “Shagari was a Fulani President, Yar’ Adua was a Fulani President and they were the best in the history. But President Buhari is the worst President when it comes to issues of security and keeping his promises. “Go back to 2015, what did h

Latifat Tijani has won Nigeria’s first gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympic Games. She won the gold on Thursday in women’s 45kg powerlifting. Tijani defeated China’s Zhe Cui to lift 107kg. Latifat Tijani was gold medalist at the Brazzaville 2015 Africa Games and silver medalist at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, who will also be in the women’s 45kg straight gold medal contest same day. On his part, Team Nigeria’s Yakubu Adesokan missed out on a podium placement in men’s 49kg Powerlifting. He finished fourth with his best lift of 155kg. Adesokan attempted 161kg on his last attempt to snatch Bronze from Azerbaijan’s Parvin Mammadov who lifted 156kg, but failed to lift it. Adesokan was a London 2012 Paralympic and 2014 World Para Powerlifting Championships gold medalist. Punch

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has thrown its weight behind the calls for the creation of state police, insisting that it will  address the security challenges facing Nigeria. ECWA President, Rev. Stephen Panya-Baba, gave his support on Wednesday when he visited Rev. Ronku Aka, Brra Nggwe Rigwe in Miango Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several villages in Miango were recently attacked, scores of people killed and many others injured. The attackers also razed many houses and destroyed crops on farmlands in 39 communities of the chiefdom. According to the ECWA president, the creation of state police would go a long way to assist state governments to address the myriad of security challenges facing the country. Panya-Baba explained that the current security structure in the country could not address the security challenges, hence the need for the Federal Government to allow t

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has requested the British Government to grant an exemption to African players for the international window. “CAF has noted the current circumstances in place in Britain regarding the lack of sporting exemptions for players returning from several African countries after the international window next week. “CAF, acting on behalf of all African Member-Associations, African players and fans, has urged the British Government to urgently provide the required exemptions. ”This is to enable African players to compete for their countries in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers,” the continental football governing body said in a statement late Wednesday. CAF added that it noted that “similar exemptions were granted by the British Government to enable the attendance of delegations and officials, amongst others”, at the finals of the European Championship held less than two months ago. “It is further noted that the

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, on Wednesday beat Mali 81-73 in their opening match of the ongoing 2021 AfroBasket Championship in Kigali, Rwanda. The Nigerian side, who were without most of their NBA stars paraded at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, got off to a good start winning the first quarter 28-12. Captained by Stephen Domingo of Lake land Magic in the U.S G-League, the team showed glimpses of a side thirsty for a win with some quick fast-breaks. The Malian team however rallied back in the second quarter to win it at 31-16, to go into half time just a point behind at 43-44. On resumption of the third quarter, D’Tigers upped their game to win 27-10 for a 71-53 lead. The Malians again showed they were no push-overs, coming strong in the fourth quarter to win it 20-10. But it was a little too late for them as the D’Tigers won the highly entertaining encounter 81-73. D’Tigers who are the number one-ranked team in Africa are in Group

The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday denied claims that military personnel monitoring the closed-circuit television at the Nigerian Defence Academy were fast asleep when the attack on the facility happened. It also said a board of enquiry has been constituted to ascertain the incidents that led to the security breach. The DHQ disclosed this in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Benjamin Sawyerr. The bandits on Tuesday attacked the NDA in Kaduna and killed two personnel and kidnapped one. An online news platform,  TheCable,  had reported that officers in the CCTV monitoring room at NDA slept off while the marauders operated. Dispelling the claim in a statement, the DHQ said the military personnel are trained and dedicated to their duties. It read, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a news publication by an online news media claiming that personnel on duty at the Nigerian Defence Academy CCTV monitoring room were

Eight persons, including a policeman and a vigilante have been killed in Mangu Local Governement Area of Plateau State. The policeman, Abdulrahaman Isah, was identified as the Commander, IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu while the name of the vigilante was given as Hassan Mohammed. It was gathered that the victims were killed on Monday evening at Kwoi community of the council area. The President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, North East Nigerian Conference, Joshua Mallum, at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday condemned the continued violence in Plateau State. He said, “A killer is a criminal, hence governement must put all ethnic and religious sentiments aside in dealing with these merchants of death threatening our collective peace and existence in Plateau and Nigeria.” The spokesman of the State Police Command, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the Mangu killings in a statement in Jos on Tuesday Ogaba said, “On 23/08/2021 at about 1400hrs, the c

The Nigerian Defence Academy has confirmed the reported attack on it's facility which led to the abduction of an officer and the killing of two others. A statement signed by Major  Bashir Muhd Jajira,  Academy Public Relations Officer said; " The security architecture of  the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen who gained access into  the residential area within the Academy in Afaka. During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted. "The Academy in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna state has since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel. "The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that this unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued" the statem

Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna was on Tuesday attacked by bandits who killed two officers and abducted one other. The bandits invaded the permanent site of the institution located along Airport Road, Afaka, in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State around 1.00am. Punch newspaper quotes a source as saying that the hoodlums, who were dressed in military camouflage, beat the guards and headed for the officers’ quarters of the institution. Incidentally, the military institution is opposite the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka where 39 students were abducted by bandits on March 11, 2021. The bandits demanded N500 million few days after the abducted. But they were finally released after spending 50 days in the bandits’ den following the intervention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi. As of the time filing this report, information regarding the attack on

On the face of it, Nigerians would be happy that their fellow citizens who have gone astray to sin violently against the state and its people should repent. Recently, about 1000 terrorists including their families, from the Boko Haram and ISWAP groups surrendered to the Nigerian Army. Army spokesperson, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said they renounced their membership of their criminal groups and turned themselves under serious pressure of military operations against them. They will be processed and handed over to the relevant authorities, he added. Soon after, another group of 45 terrorists have reportedly surrendered.  All these are happening on the platform of the ‘‘Operation Safe Corridor’’ created by the Buhari government in 2016 or thereabouts, ostensibly to encourage Boko Haram terrorists surrender and undergo a severely controversial programme of de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and re-integration (DRR). Over the years, the criminals have trickled in: For example, 1

The crisis of confidence between some members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Chairman, Uche Secondus, took a turn for the worse on Monday. This followed the decision of a Rivers State High Court to grant an interim injunction restraining Secondus, from parading himself as chairman and member of the PDP. Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division vacation court, sitting in Port Harcourt, granted the order. This was sequel to the consideration of an ex parte application in suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 filed by Ibeabuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha against Uche Secondus (1st defendant) and the PDP (2nd defendant). The judge, after reading the affidavit in support of the motion of ex parte as well as the written address, and after hearing the submission of H.A. Bello, counsel to applicants, granted the interim injunction. The order read in part, “that an order restraining the 1st defendant from parading himself

Barely two months to the Anambra State Governorship Election, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, (YPP) Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has challenged Professor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to a public debate. Senator Ubah, who represents Anambra South senatorial district in the 9th Senate, called for the debate on sunday in a statement, while reacting to Prof. Soludo's claim concerning the governorship position in Anambra state. Senator Ubah's statement which was made available to Journalists on sunday, is titled, "Anambra2021: Senator Ifeanyi Ubah Challenges Prof. Soludo To Provide His Manifesto Within 48hours And A Public Debate Within 7 Days Of Presentation Of His Manifesto’. Prof. Soludo on the other hand, had claimed that Anambra state was too sophisticated for a school certificate holder to aspire to govern, although INEC's requirement for such contest is a senior secondary school certificate (SSCE), either awarded by

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the new memorandum of understanding (MoU) presented by the federal government. NARD national president, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, made this known while addressing newsmen at the end of a closed door meeting with the federal government and other relevant stakeholders on Sunday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “We rejected the MoU, we didn’t sign it because we feel we are being punished for the failures of those in government,” Mr Uyilawa said. Resident doctors had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 1 over unpaid salaries, allowances, and other concerns affecting their members. The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led the striking doctors to a meeting summoned at the instance of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime and aimed at resolving the ongoing strike by doctors across the country. It would also be recalled that the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, had on August 13, handed over t

Fifteen kidnapped students of the Bethel Baptist High School have been released by bandits. Recall that the bandits released 28 of the students on Sunday, July 25, after N50m ransom was paid, and 20 days in captivity. The students were 121 in number, according to the president of the Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, who is also the proprietor of the school. They were kidnapped in the early hours of July 5, 2021 around 2am at the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, Damishi, in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Hayab, said the 15 students were released on Saturday night by the bandits. Punch

At last, the tortuous journey to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas sector came to an end with President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB thus transforming it to Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. But quite instructively, the spate of reactions that trail this development has diminished the ultimate intentions of the legislation. Nobody seems interested in knowing why in the first place, the need arose for the overhaul of the petroleum industry. Nigeria is endowed with abundant oil wealth which also placed it among the largest suppliers of crude oil in Africa, yet it is battling with national development particularly when compared with its contemporaries. Worse still, Nigeria could not even satisfy the petroleum needs of her citizens let alone making profits from the sale of products and revenues from operators. Again, corporate social responsibility is a statutory programme of business ventures who want to enjoy a harmonious relationship with the commu

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has condoled the lawmaker representing Osun Central at the 9th Senate, Dr Ajibola Bashiru over the death of his mother-in-law, Mrs Susan Gladys Aso.  The Governor's condolence message was contained in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, in Osogbo on Saturday.  Governor Oyetola said: "Dear distinguished, I was sad to learn of the demise of your mother-in-law, Mrs Susan Gladys Aso and wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to you, your wife and the entire family of the deceased.  "While it is painful to lose a loved one, I urge you and the entire family, especially your wife, to take solace in the fact that Mama lived an inspiring life that is worthy of emulation.  "The late Mrs Gladys was a hardworking, loving and accommodating woman, a great teacher and worthy role model to her children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.  "We pray to God Almighty to grant he

Anita Okoye, the wife of Nigerian singer,  Paul Okoye  aka Rude Boy, one half of the defunct music group P-Square, has filed for divorce. Anita requested the dissolution of her marriage with Paul, as per a partly redacted court document that surfaced and went viral on social media platforms on Friday. According to the petition filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Anita cited “irreconcilable difference” as her reason, asking her man to challenge it if he feels disgruntled. Anita first sparked divorce rumours in April when it was reported that she relocated with their three children to the United States of America. In 2019, she was accused by a popular aphrodisiac vendor of buying items to keep her marriage together. The vendor later took down the story from Instagram. The couple met in 2004 during their undergraduate days at the University of Abuja and got married on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The

The governorship  candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship poll scheduled for November 6,  Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has said the state was too sophisticated for a  school certificate holder to aspire to govern. Soludo, who spoke at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, on Friday, during the inauguration of the APGA National Campaign Council  for Anambra poll, said the state had outgrown being governed with such lowly educational qualification. The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Thursday published a list of candidates for the Anambra Governorship election wherein most of the candidates presented secondary school certificates as their highest qualifications. Soludo said, “APGA has a star-studded team for this election and it is the party with the best brains. “Look at other political parties and their candidates, and you will find out that they have just first school leaving certificate

For the second time in three months, authorities at the University of Jos have ordered students on campus to vacate their hostels with immediate effect until further notice because of insecurity. The University also said it had suspended all academic activities for the 2019/2020 session pending a return of normalcy. The institution’s actions were contained in a statement signed by its Registrar ,Monday Danjem on Friday. The statement read in part “Following the risky and precarious insecurity situation in Jos, the imposition of dusk to dawn curfew, which has affected the academic activities including the suspension of Second Semester Examinations for the 2019/2020 Academic Session in the University of Jos, the University continued to experience the loss of lives of some of our students. “Consequently, the Management of the University of Jos, after an emergency meeting with the Committee of Deans, Directors and Provost on Friday, 20th August, 2021, has approv

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved recommendations of a committee to review “with dispatch, 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in the country, and to determine the levels of encroachment.” Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. He said the committee was chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. Garba said, among others, the committee had recommended the collection of field data collection on 368 Grazing Reserves across 25 states to assess encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder engagements and sensitization. He noted that the Committee also recommended production of maps and geo-mapping/tagging of sites, analysis of findings and report preparations as well as design appropriate communication on grazing reserves and operations. “The number of the grazing reserves and states were deduced from considerations of existing security concerns an