The Super Eagles have been placed in Group A for the 2023 AFCON alongside the host nation, Cote D’Ivoire, as well as Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau! 🇳🇬 🇨🇮 🇬🇶 🇬🇼
The Comprehensive Roster of Governor Abiodun’s Cabinet Scheduled for Inauguration Today
Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, is scheduled to administer the oath of office today, Friday, to 20 Commissioners-designate and Special Advisers.
Here is the complete list:
**COMMISSIONER NOMINEES**
1. Mr. Oladapo OKUBADEJO
2. Mr. Olaolu OLABIMTAN
3. Jamiu Akande Jagunmolu OMONIYI
4. Engr. Adebowale O. AKINSANYA
5. Mr. Olusina OGUNGBADE
6. Dr. Tomi COKER
7. Prof. Abayomi ARIGBABU
8. Hon. Ganiyu O. HAMZAT
9. Engr. Oludotun TAIWO
10. Mr. Adebola Emmanuel SOFELA
11. Hon. (Mrs) Olufemi ILORI-ODUNTAN
12. Hon. (Mrs) Motunrayo Adijat ADELEYE
13. Engr. Olugbenga DAIRO
14. Hon. Bolu OWOTOMO
15. Mr. Oladimeji ORESANYA
16. Hon. Ademola BALOGUN
17. Mr. Sesan FAGBAYI
18. TPL Olusoga Olatunji ODUNLAMI
19. Hon. (Mrs) Olufunmilayo Temidayo EFUWAPE
20. Hon. Wasiu ISIAKA
**SPECIAL ADVISER NOMINEES**
1. Arch Biodun Fari-Arole
2. Hon. (Otunba) Babatunde Olaotan
3. Mr. Dayo Abiodun
4. Mr. Olusola Subair Kamar (AIG RTD)
5. Chief Segun Fowora
6. Babatunde Akeem Adesina
7. Princess Peju Shote
8. Hon. Tajudeen Egunjobi
9. Dr. Leke Otegbeye
10. Ayotunde Olambiwoninu Lawal
11. Hon. Kayode Akinmade
12. Oyindamola Oyelese
13. Ap Biodun Sanyaolu
14. Mr. Seyi Ogunseye
15. Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye
16. Hon. Rasak Oluwakemi Daddah
17. Chief Jide Ojuko
18. Sola Arobieke
19. Dr. Reuben Olurotimi Ogungbe
20. Yemisi Dawodu
21. Ronke Soyombo
22. Abayomi Hunye”
(Note: The list of Commissioner and Special Adviser nominees set to be sworn in today is as follows.)
Akin Alabi Launches the House Committee on Works and Vows to Prioritize Transparency
On Thursday, the inaugural meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Works was convened at the main bowl of the National Assembly in Abuja, where its primary agenda was declared.
The committee, led by Chairman Rep Akin Alabi, pledged to carry out effective oversight of the Ministry of Works, ensuring that allocated funds for road construction and rehabilitation in Nigeria deliver value.
Chairman Rep Akin Alabi expressed confidence that with their oversight of the Works Ministry and its associated agencies, significant improvements in road infrastructure would become visible.
He emphasized the need for the Committee, consisting of representatives from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to be more productive and focused, acknowledging the challenges facing the road sector.
Additionally, Rep Akin Alabi proposed the consideration and adoption of concrete as a construction material for roads, as an alternative to asphalt, which had contributed to the deplorable state of road infrastructure in the country.
He welcomed the committee members and highlighted the importance of their role, as outlined in the House’s Standing Orders.
The committee’s jurisdiction covers oversight of federal road and bridge construction and maintenance, survey and mapping, roads research, and various associated bodies and institutions.
Rep Akin Alabi stressed the urgency of the committee’s work, given the Minister of Works’ recent revelations about the state of road projects in the country.
He emphasized the committee’s role in addressing the suffering of the people caused by poor road conditions and the need to develop legislation, policies, and interventions to enhance the road infrastructure situation.
The Chairman also mentioned past initiatives, such as the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) and the Highway Management Development Initiative (HDMI), employed to improve road infrastructure during the previous administration.
He promised the committee’s commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of Works and its agencies to achieve rapid transformation in the country’s roads, aligning with the Legislative Agenda of the 10th Assembly.
Tinubu informs the Supreme Court that Atiku fabricated accusations against him
President Bola Tinubu has petitioned the Supreme Court to reject an appeal made by the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, aimed at nullifying his election victory.
In a comprehensive 42-page document presented by a team of 17 lawyers, including 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Tinubu urged the apex court to uphold the Court of Appeal’s decision, which dismissed Atiku and the PDP’s joint petition against him.
Tinubu emphasized that he was duly elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having secured 25% of the total votes in 29 states.
He argued that Atiku and the PDP only achieved this threshold in 21 states, falling short of the constitutional requirement.
He maintained that INEC had no choice but to declare him the winner due to his majority of lawful votes and fulfillment of constitutional criteria.
Tinubu criticized the allegations made by Atiku and the PDP, describing them as baseless and unsupported by facts.
He noted that the allegations lacked specificity and relied on vague and nebulous claims, such as discrepancies in academic qualifications and non-compliance with electoral procedures.
Additionally, Tinubu pointed out that Atiku’s witnesses did not front-load their statements with the petition, making it evident that their intent was not to prosecute a legitimate petition but to create suspense and confusion.
The President urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s appeal as lacking in merit and to uphold his election.
He emphasized that Atiku’s alternative request for a run-off election revealed their underlying belief in his own victory and accused them of abusing the legal process.
The appeal is marked as SC/CV/935/2023, with INEC, Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 1st to 3rd Respondents.
As of now, no specific date has been set for the commencement of the Supreme Court’s proceedings on the presidential dispute.
Two individuals found guilty of the murder of DSS agents in Ikorodu by the court
In a Lagos State High Court session held in Ikeja yesterday, two individuals, Clement Ododomu and Tiwei Monday, were found guilty of conspiracy and murder involving seven officers from the Department of State Security (DSS).
This incident occurred at the Ishawo Creek in the Ikorodu area on September 14, 2015.
The presiding judge, Hakeem Oshodi, delivered the verdict but deferred their sentencing until November 14, taking into consideration the pleas made by the convicts.
The court determined that the first defendant, Ododomu, was guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, possession of firearms, and felony.
Meanwhile, the second defendant, Monday, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and felony.
The trouble began on September 14, 2015, when the DSS received a distress report from an editor of the Sun Newspaper regarding the kidnapping of his wife at their residence.
In response, a nine-man team was dispatched to conduct a surveillance operation to locate the kidnappers who were negotiating a ransom.
Unfortunately, that evening, one team member, Mr. Martins Ajayi, sent a distressing text message indicating that they had been ambushed by vandals who had seized their weapons.
Subsequently, the two suspects were arrested and faced a 10-count charge related to murder and possession of firearms, as stipulated in Section 223 and 298(3) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C.A Vol. 3, laws of Lagos State 2015.
They initially pleaded not guilty, leading to the commencement of the trial.
However, Justice Oshodi’s judgment revealed that the defendants’ claim of being in Lagos for their grandmother’s funeral was unsubstantiated, as they failed to provide essential witnesses to support this claim.
The court also found that the prosecution couldn’t prove the murder charge against the second defendant, indicating that it was one Agbala, who remained at large, and the first defendant who killed the DSS operatives.
Consequently, the court acquitted the convicts on counts 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 due to the prosecutor’s inability to substantiate these allegations.
However, the court upheld that Ododomu was guilty of counts 1, 5, 7, 9, and 10, which included conspiracy to commit murder, murder, possession of firearms, and felony.
Monday was found guilty of counts 1 and 10, involving conspiracy to commit murder and felony.
Following the court’s guilty verdict, the defense counsel requested leniency in sentencing, while the prosecutor and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, urged the court to impose the stipulated convictions based on the charges filed against the defendants.
Police arrest undergraduates for killing club owner in sexcapade
The police have apprehended two female students from a Polytechnic on suspicion of being involved in the robbery and murder of a nightclub owner in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The two suspects, Joseph Joy Adanma and Vandora Oreoluwa Favour, allegedly tied the victim, Mr. Adeniyi Ojo, the son of prominent figure Chief Emmanuel Ojo, to a hotel bed during a sexual encounter. They proceeded to steal his personal belongings, including his phones, and ultimately caused his death.
After a thorough investigation, the police tracked the stolen phones to the suspects’ location in Mowe, Lagos, where they were subsequently arrested.
The police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the arrest in Abuja, stating that the suspects, Adanma and Favour, who are students of Kwara State Polytechnic, had resorted to drugging and suffocating Mr. Ojo when he did not comply with their monetary demands, leading to his tragic demise.
One of the suspects, Adanma, admitted to having a sexual relationship with the deceased, revealing that they had planned to steal from him on that fateful day.
When their victim didn’t cooperate, they drugged him and made off with his phone and other valuables, only to later discover that he had passed away.
"How We Killed Club Owner" – Murder Suspects Give Shocking Account
…as Police parade 54 suspects in Abuja pic.twitter.com/GntvnwSpqn— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) October 11, 2023
The Lagos Blue Line electrifies its system, expanding its daily service to 54 trips
Starting from Monday, October 16, the Lagos State Government is set to significantly increase the number of train journeys on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line, which runs from Marina to Mile 2.
The current 12 trips per day will be boosted to 54, with a target of reaching 74 trips by the end of November.
This expansion was announced by Kolawole Ojelabi, the Consultant of Corporate Communication at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), in a statement issued yesterday.
Ojelabi explained that they anticipate energizing the tracks by next Monday, allowing for the deployment of additional train sets for daily passenger operations.
In preparation for this increase in train services, there will be a temporary suspension of train operations on Saturday, October 14 (morning peak only), with no service in the afternoon and on Sunday, October 15. This pause is required to complete the transition to electricity.
Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, the Managing Director of LAMATA, emphasized the importance of suspending passenger operations during this transition to prioritize safety.
Such practices are common worldwide to ensure the secure implementation of substantial changes.
The switch to electricity will enable the introduction of more train trips and the capacity to accommodate more passengers.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched passenger operations on the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line on September 4, 2023.
Since then, it has already served over 80,000 passengers. It is anticipated that the daily passenger movement between Marina and Mile 2 will surpass 150,000 passengers in the coming months.
The EFCC has successfully retrieved a total of N41.78 billion from power projects, individuals associated with the former Attorney General of the Federation, and other related sources
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully recovered a substantial amount of money from three significant cases, along with several other cases that are currently under investigation.
According to Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, the Acting Chairman’s primary focus on fund recovery has resulted in the retrieval of approximately N41.78 billion. In recent months, the EFCC has managed to recover N27.18 billion in cash and $19.08 million (equivalent to N14.60 billion) in total.
Despite a recent decrease in the EFCC’s operational activities, Oyewale emphasized that the commission continues to make progress in fulfilling its mandate.
Notably, ongoing investigations are being conducted in relation to a significant fraud case involving officials from the Federal Ministry of Power and Agriculture.
This case centers on procurement fraud and the diversion of funds designated for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects through various Bureau de Change operators.
As a result, several houses purchased with these misappropriated funds are currently in the process of being recovered, located in Abuja, Lagos, and Cross River State.
Furthermore, in a case involving the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) accused of embezzling N109 billion, one of their associates, a senior government official, voluntarily surrendered N12 billion to the EFCC.
Additionally, the EFCC has also successfully recovered an undisclosed sum of money on behalf of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In these three cases, the commission has managed to recover a total of N41.78 billion, comprising N27,184,357,524.52 in cash and $19,084,419.33.
The EFCC remains committed to ongoing investigations, particularly those related to alleged financial misconduct by former and current public office holders, including former governors, ministers, and ministry officials.
The commission is actively pursuing cases involving money laundering, theft, and misappropriation of funds, and it plans to disclose the details of these investigations in due course.
Notably, the former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, was apprehended by EFCC operatives on allegations of involvement in a N22 billion fraud scheme.
This arrest is linked to the ongoing investigation into corruption within the execution of specific power projects, where Mamman and ministry staff overseeing the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects allegedly conspired to divert N22 billion for personal gain.
Amusan’s absence noted as the World Athlete reveals the list of nominees for the 2023 awards
World Athletics (WA) made an announcement yesterday, revealing the candidates for the Women’s Athlete of the Year for 2023. Surprisingly, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the record holder in the 100m hurdles and a reigning champion in Nigeria, Africa, and the Commonwealth, is notably absent from the list.
It’s worth noting that last year, Tobi Amusan made history as the first Nigerian athlete to ever be nominated for this prestigious award.
She made it to the final five, narrowly losing out to the World 400m hurdles champion and record holder, Sydeny McLaughlin.
Unfortunately, due to Amusan’s inability to successfully defend her world title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, coupled with the emotional turmoil surrounding her provisional suspension for three Whereabouts Failures, it seems her remarkable performance in the Diamond League wasn’t sufficient to secure a spot on the recently unveiled list by World Athletics.
The list of 11 nominees is headlined by five individuals who have broken world records in various events.
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the World 1500m and 5000m champion, notably set three world records in 2023 in the 1500m, one mile, and 5000m.
Among the nominees, you’ll also find Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who established a world marathon record and triumphed in the Berlin Marathon.
Femke Bol, a Dutch athlete, secured a world indoor record in the 400m flat and won the world title in the 400m hurdles.
Maria Perez, who is a world champion in the 20km and 35km race walk, also managed to set a world record in the 35km race walk.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay rounds out the list of world record holders among the nominees.
She secured the world 10,000m championship and broke Kipyegon’s 5000m world record on her way to winning the event at the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Additional nominees include Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican world 200m champion and double sprint Diamond League winner; Japan’s world and Diamond League javelin champion, Haruka Kitaguchi; Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the high jump title holder in Budapest and Eugene.
Also featured on the list are the world and Diamond League triple champion, Yulimar Rojas; Sha’Carri Richardson, the American who claimed the 100m title at the World Championships, and Bahama’s Winfred Yavi, the victor in the 3000m steeplechase in Budapest and Eugene.
A miraculous escape from a collapsed building in Ogun averts tragedy
A man identified simply as Seun narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation when a building in the Old Bank area of the Ifo Local Government Area in Ogun State collapsed on Wednesday.
Although there were no casualties, the victim was trapped under the fallen stairs for hours before being rescued by onlookers who had gathered at the scene.
An eyewitness disclosed to PUNCH Metro that the building had been showing signs of distress for quite some time before it finally gave way at around 5:20 p.m.
A one-minute video shared with our correspondent on Thursday depicted residents coming together to mobilize resources for the rescue operation.
They worked diligently to extract the victim from the rubble, even requesting water to be poured over him as he appeared unconscious in the video.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer Omolola Odutola stated to PUNCH Metro that the victim was currently undergoing treatment.
He had been promptly taken to Demark hospital, and the affected area had been cordoned off with the involvement of the Local Government Authority.