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  News    File Image  The US Department of State has advised Americans to reconsider travelling to Nigeria “due to crime, t£rrorism, civil unrest, kidn@pping, and armed gangs.” In its latest travel advisory shared on Wednesday, the US noted that some areas “have increased risk”. It advised its citizens against travelling to Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states due to t£rrorism and kidnap. @pping; Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states due to kidn@pping; Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidn@pping, and armed gangs. “Vi%l£nt crime – such as armed robbery, a§§ault, carj@cking, kidn@pping, hostage taking, roadside banditry, and r@p£ – is common throughout the country. Kidn@ppings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as U.S. citizens with perceived wealth. Kidn@pping gangs have ...

  News    File Image  The Ebonyi State command of the Nigeria Police Force has called on residents of the state and people of the South-East to ignore the purported ban on Nigeria's Independence Celebration on October 1, in the region by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). We had earlier reported that IPOB in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, banned celebrations of Nigeria's Independence Day in the entire region. The pro-Biafra group had claimed that the Nigerian state detests Igbos and has rejected all efforts to treat people of the Southeast equally. Warning the governors of the region and political leaders to shun the celebration, the group had stated that every sensible resident must understand that Nigeria detested Biafrans, particularly Ndigbo. But reacting to the ban placed on the celebration, Ebonyi State Police Command said its operatives would ensure round-the-clock security surveillance in all the nooks and crannies of the state. The Command...

  News    Mazi Nnamdi Kanu  The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed Thursday, October 5, 2023 for hearing on two separate appeals filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu through his Counsels and against his continued detention. The appeal to hear on Thursday are marked SC/CR/1394/2022, NNAMDI KANU V. FED. REP OF NIGERIA; and SC/CR/1391/2023, FED. REP OF NIG VS NNAMDI KANU, SaharaReporters learnt on Saturday. The lead counsel of the detained Leader of the pro-Biafra group, Mike Ozekhome, confirmed the hearing date to SaharaReporters on Saturday. Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, leads Ifeanyi Ejiofor and others in the appeal which they had formerly won at the Federal High Court and at the Court of Appeal. SaharaReporters had reported that the Court of Appeal had in October 2022 discharged Kanu of the 15 Counts charge against him. The appellate court subsequently, barred any further arrest, detention and trial ...

  News    File Image  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has banned celebration of Nigeria's Independence anniversary celebrations across the Southeast on October 1. The pro-Biafra group stated this in a statement issued on Friday by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, claiming that the Nigerian state detests Igbos and has rejected all efforts to treat people of the Southeast equally. The group further warned the governors of the region and political leaders to shun the celebration. The statement partly read: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the Supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU hereby call on Biafrans both home and in diaspora to shun participation in the Nigeria Independent day celebration on 1st October 2023. “Every sensible Biafra citizen must understand that Nigeria detests Biafrans, particularly Ndigbo. Nigeria has rejected all our efforts to be treated as equal citizens. Nigeria has marginalised Biafrans poli...

  News   File Image National President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) Ambali Akeem Olatunji, has berated Abia governor, Alex Otti, for allegedly meddling in the affairs of NULGE in the State. The NULGE President who expressed the union’s displeasure over Otti’s recent imposition of his stooges as the executives of the union in the state, maintained that there was no leadership crisis in the state chapter of the union before Otti was elected. Speaking in Akure, during the inauguration of a new NULGE President in the Ondo, Comrade Fredrick Akinrinlola, the National President described Otti’s action as “executive recklessness”, accusing the Abia governor of imposing his cronies on the union to take over the leadership of NULGE in Abia. The NULGE National President alleged the governor decided to impose his stooges at the NULGE helms of affairs in order to control the union, but said the union will resist the move. He said some Chief Executive at the ...

  News    File Image  On 28th September 2023, Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma gave this pledge during one of his vote mobilisations tour ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the South Eastern State of Nigeria. Gov. Uzodinma claimed that his administration had negotiated and reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) and Canadian companies to provide 4,000 jobs for Imo state indigenes. He also promised to pay for the flight tickets of the beneficiaries of this project. Reportera reached out to the European Union to verify this claim. First we called the European External Action Service (EEAS) line +32 2 *** 11 11 where we spoke with a representative who revealed that such an arrangement was in fact not feasible because the EU as a body does not negotiate employment arrangements but only monitors the workings of companies within EU countries. The representative however stated that if an arrangement was made with companies within the EU countries, ...

  News    File Image  There’s rising anxiety and tension in the premises of Isabo Magistrate Court, Abeokuta, the state capital as Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal is set to deliver judgement in the petition filed by Hon. Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun. After three month, long sitting and conclusion of hearing, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal reserved judgement for today in the petition filed by PDP’s Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Adebutu had prayed that the tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza to nullify Governor Abiodun’s victory and declare him winner of March 18 Governorship election in Ogun State. Adebutu, among things, is also seeking an order of the Tribunal to upturn the election of Governor Abiodun, alleging that the election that brought him into office for the second time, was riddled with violence, irregularitie...

  News    File Image  The United States District Court in the Northern District of Illinois has stated that it has received “extensive email communications” from many third parties in relation to the case brought Nigerian former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, concerning President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University records. The US court on Friday in a notification of docket entry stated that “it will not consider any third-party or ex parte submissions.” “The court understands the significant public interest in this dispute, but the court will not consider any third-party or ex-parte submissions. Rather, the court’s review will be limited to the parties’ briefing and the official records on the docket,” the court notification said. SaharaReporters had during the week reported that Atiku filed a fresh motion urging the US Court to overrule Tinubu’s request to stop Chicago State University from releasing his (Tinubu’s) academic record. Atiku had earlier secured an ...

  Entertainment   File Image Singer, Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ, aka Brymo, has described his sex-for-music request from female colleague, Simisola Kosoko, simply known as Simi as an “artistic pursuit” Brymo sparked controversy after he revealed in a voice note he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he demanded a sexual relationship from Simi in lieu for a music collaboration. This didn’t sit well with Simi’s husband, singer Adekunle Gold, who warned him to “stay away” from his wife and “stop disrespecting” his family. He said, “One day I was somewhere and I met Adekunle Gold, I was just like, ‘Oh! Gold.’ The first time I was ever meeting him. And he requested a collaboration… When he came to me, I just said flatly, ‘Oga, I’m not doing any collaboration right now.’ “Two weeks after, Simi came. I didn’t know they [Simi and Adekunle Gold were together]. I’m sure you all know about Falz. He took the fall that I was supposed to take. I was the target… But I’m a smart guy. “When I saw her [Si...

  News    Dr Alex Chioma Otti  Governor Alex Otti's Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security Mr Chukwunenye Alajemba has resigned his appointment with immediate effect. A close source to Mr Alajemba told PUO reports that he resigned due to the "autocratic and undemocratic" style Governor Alex Otti is running his administration. The Texas based Abian lamented how Governor Alex was running the finances of the state solely which he said was  a deviation from all known democratic process.

  News    file Image  The Election Tribunal panel sitting in Umuahia has validated the victory of Chief Collins Ugochukwu Iheonunekwu as the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency in the Abia State House Assembly. Delivering judgement, a three man panel headed by Hon. Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, ruled and struck out the petition filed by Mr. Innocent Uruakpa of the Labour Party for lack of merit. More details to follow.

  News    Goodluck Ebele Jonathan  Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, has said democracy as it is currently practised in Africa needs to be "rejigged" adding that people no longer trust the system of government. Jonathan, who stated this during a Democracy Dialogue 2023 on Thursday, organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, revealed that democracy in Africa had caused serious crisis in recent years, citing the upsurge in coup d'etat across the African continent with the people cheering them. The Democracy Dialogue 2023 has the theme: “Breaking New Grounds In The Democracy Development Nexus in Africa”. ”Leadership is supposed to work to ensure that democracy is translated to economic well-being, explaining that democracy should be able to encourage development. ”Recently, we have experienced jubilations heralding the overthrown of civilian administrations in Africa, people jubilating military overthrowing civil administr...

  News    File Image  The National and State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia Abia State, has dismissed the petition brought before it by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, against the member representing Obingwa-West State Constituency, Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr, noting that it lacks merit. In a unanimous judgment delivered today, Thursday, September 28, 2023 by Hon. Justice Abubakar Kutigi-led three-man panel, the tribunal held that the petitioner; Mrs. Victoria Dibunma Onwubiko failed to prove that the election was marred with substantial ‘Non Compliance’ with Electoral Acts in Obingwa-West State Constituency of March 18, 2023 elections as she alleged. The tribunal also held that the Petitioner, Mrs. Onwubiko who contested the election results in 82 Polling Units (PUs), brought only Eight witnesses and presented evidence for only Three Polling Units. The tribunal Chairman further described the evidence as abysmal with...

  News   India is planning a major new space challenge, a mission to Venus about a month after the country’s successful moon landing.  File Image  India is planning a major new space challenge, a mission to Venus about a month after the country’s successful moon landing. The head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, said that exploring Venus could provide important insights into the future of our planet. He said the mission is expected to be launched in the coming years, and it aims to study the surface and atmosphere of Venus. Currently, an Indian probe is on its way to study the sun. According to ISRO, it would take about four months for it to reach the sun’s orbit, and then, its outermost layers would be analysed. In August, India became the fourth country ever to manage a soft landing on the moon. India’s space programme began in the 1960s. In the first decades, the focus was mainly on getting satellites into space cheapl...

  News    Gov Francis Nwifuru  The Ebonyi State Election Petitions Tribunal affirmed the election of Governor Francis Nwifuru. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Francis Nwifuru winner of the poll with 199,131 votes. Chukwuma Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 80,191 votes. The election held on March 18, 2023 But Odii and PDP rejected the outcome and vowed to challenge it. They subsequently approached the Tribunal seeking the nullification of Nwifuru’s election on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and alleged failure to score the majority of lawful votes cast at the guber poll. Odii and the PDP legal team argued that the governor was at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election on the platform of the APC because he was still a member of the People’s Democratic Party. However, the Nwifuru’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) submitted a letter before ...