...Read Full Article

On Saturday, tension gripped Oria-Abraka Community in Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State when police officers from Abraka Division reportedly shot Rukevwe John, a girl, in front of Oria-Abraka Secondary School.

The policemen were said to have fled the scene after they shot the girl.

At the time of this report, the victim was said to be battling for her life at an undisclosed hospital.

Narrating how the incident occurred, the boyfriend of the girl simply identified as Precious said he was taking the U-turn while driving when he heard someone hitting his vehicle from behind to stop and then he came down, and saw they were policemen and he frowned at the way they approached him, entered his vehicle and drove off.

According to him, he suddenly heard a gunshot, which penetrated his car and hit his girlfriend directly from the back, in the passenger’s seat.

A group, Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancements, ISRCA, today raised an alarm over the incident with a call on the Delta State Commissioner of Police Surajudeen Olufemi Abaniwonda, to immediately probe into the matter, fishing out the Police officers at Oriah junction, and further persecuting same where necessary.

ISRCA National Coordinator, Comrade (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen in a statement said before calling on CP Abaniwonda, he had reached out to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO Abraka, SP Fabian Ayameh and also, the Delta State Police CPRO, DSP Bright Edafe.

He said the government should, as a matter of seriousness, end police brutality and extra-judicial killings, stressing that policemen cannot just end the lives of citizens abruptly like that.

 ...Read Full Article

Ismaila Mustapha, a socialite who is also known as Mompha, has been slammed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for accusing the commission of being “corrupt and useless.”

Mompha who is standing trial on conspiracy for money laundering and other criminal activities had accused the operatives of the commission of corruption.

But, the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede while reacting through a statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Saturday night, insisted that Mompha must prove to the court how he came about the corruption allegations.

Olukoyede said he would have allowed the matter to slide since the allegation was coming from already embattled and “sinking defendant” but he would not, as the allegation has to do with the commission’s most valued integrity and image.

The Chairman, who expressed dismay over what he described as ‘media war and phantom accusations’ by Mompha, said the commission will not be deterred from prosecuting his (Mompha) ongoing case to a logical conclusion.

He, therefore, ordered that Mompha should be invited to bring evidence of any issue of corruption against any staff of the Commission adding that he should also justify his labeling of the EFCC as a “useless agency” with evidential proofs.

The statement in parts, “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the malicious and unsubstantiated statement made by the embattled Ismaila Mustapha, (a.k.a Mompha) alleging corruption by operatives of the Commission.

“While Mompha may just be a drowning man clutching at any straw owing to the overwhelming evidence of his involvement in the money laundering case, his unsubstantiated claims against the EFCC is an issue the Commission is taking seriously.

“To this end, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has directed that Mompha be invited to bring clasping evidence of any issue of corruption against any staff of the Commission. Besides, the socialite should also justify his labeling of the EFCC as a “ useless agency” with evidential proofs.

“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC would not sit back and allow libelous effusions against its reputation go unchallenged. Mompha, to all intents and purposes, cannot be expected to paint the EFCC in bright colours owing to the professional ways officers of the Commission are handling his matter. The EFCC would not be distracted in plying its job by antics of traducers like Mompha.”

 ...Read Full Article

On Saturday, Sim Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, said his administration would not be distracted from delivering good governance to the people of the state.

Fubara disclosed this to journalists after being conducted around the entire premises and structures of the Zonal Hospital, Degema Town in the Degema Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara assured that his administration would pay close attention to healthcare, education, and agriculture.

He noted that people of the state can access quality services from those key sectors.

According to Fubara: “We are here this afternoon, just like what happened yesterday (Friday), and if you could remember, I said part of our areas of concern, going forward, will be healthcare services.

“We are here in Degema today to assess the level of work ongoing. As you can see, we don’t have a befitting and standard healthcare facility here. And that is why we need to put this place to make it standard.

“Like I said, my target for 2025 is going to be healthcare, education and agriculture. This is just the start. We are here to assure our people that no matter what it is, we still have our eyes on the ball.

“I urge the good people of Degema to continue to support us; that this government is purposeful and understands the needs of the people.”

 ...Read Full Article

Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, has denied using songwriters as suggested by Davido’s signee, Logos Olori.

Logos Olori had stated in a recent interview with City 105. Fm, that not just his boss Davido, but Wizkid, Burna Boy and other big artists use songwriters.

He said: “Most people that shame artists for using songwriters don’t know much about the music business. As a musician you tend to write your songs most times when you are up-and-coming. When you’ve 10 shows in a week in different countries, you’ll understand that you need a songwriter.

“Chris Brown has a songwriter, Michael Jackson had a songwriter. Davido is currently on tour immediately after his wedding. He writes his songs sometimes but most times he has to do the business part of it. That’s how Burna Boy is, that’s how most artists are even Wizkid but they don’t just put it out there but if you go to Spotify to check for the credits of their songs, you will see that they use songwriters as well.”

Reacting via his X handle, Burna Boy claimed that he doesn’t use songwriters, stressing that those credited as songwriters on his songs are the producers due to western music policies.

He wrote: “Any name you see credited on my songs are only producers of the songs or featured artists not writers. But for some reason the western world considers producers as writers of the instrumentals and they just throw their names on there as writers. Nobody fit write for Odogwu.”

This contradicts Burna Boy’s public admission a few years back that Davido’s signee, Peruzzi, wrote a song for him.

He claimed back then that Peruzzi was the only songwriter he has ever used.

 ...Read Full Article

The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has refuted the federal government’s assertion that all court cases regarding ownership of the oil exploration firm Malabu Oil and Gas have been settled.

The family dismissed the claim said to have been made by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, at a public function in Abuja.

In a protest letter against the claim written by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Reuben Okpanachi Atabo, the Abacha family issued a 14-day ultimatum to Lokpobiri to withdraw the alleged false claim or be slammed with contempt of court charges.

In the protest letter received at the AGF and Oil Minister’s offices on July 5, the Abacha family averred that the claim made at the opening session of the “Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week” by Lokpobiri was false, spurious, unfounded and an affront to the courts where several cases on ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas are still pending.

Lokpobiri was reported to have said the ongoing negotiations to end the disputes surrounding the Oil Mining License (OML 245) have been concluded and that the oil block will resume production in the national interest.

Malabu Oil and Gas Company belonging to the Abacha family was said to be the owner of the deepwater OML 245 oil block located in the southern Niger Delta but in 2001, the federal government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo revoked Malabu’s license to the oil block.

In 2006, Malabu challenged the revocation in court but the matter was settled out-of-court with the government under former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Trouble, however, erupted in 2011 when Shell and Eni, two major oil companies reportedly acquired the 245 oil block for $1.3 billion from Malabu in a deal approved by the Nigerian government via transfer of rights from Malabu to Shell and ENI in exchange for consideration but without the knowledge of the Abacha family.

Ever since there have been a series of litigations in various Courts by the Abacha family to reclaim ownership of the rich oil block.

The protest letter by the senior lawyer to the Oil Minister read in part “We act as Solicitors to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Abacha and Pecos Energy Ltd and on whose authority and firm instructions we write to you.

“Our Clients’ attention has been drawn to the remarks made by the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources at the opening session of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week to the effect that all legal issues relating to OPL 245 have been resolved and that the coast is clear for investors to come and invest in OML 245.

“At the said opening session, with the theme ‘Showcasing opportunities, driving investment, meeting demand’, the Minister stated thus; “I am happy to announce to you that we have resolved all the issues. We should be expecting investments in 10s of billions of dollars to create an atmosphere where we become globally competitive. Nigeria fiscals are globally competitive and those Companies that left over a year ago are coming back.”

“Sometime in 1998, Alhaji Mohammed Sani, Kweku Amafagha and Hassan Hindu co-founded Malabu Oil & Gas Limited as initial shareholders

“We wish to inform you that in 2011, there were resolution agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep and the Nigeria Agip Exploration on OPL 245, our Clients were not represented at the said Resolution Agreements rather Chief Dan Etete who was neither a Director nor Shareholder of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited purportedly represented the company.

“It was these Resolution Agreements that subsequently led to the sale of OPL 254 to Shell Exploration and Nigeria Agip Exploration Company Limited at the cost of $1.3 Billion US Dollars.

“Our Clients who did not participate nor benefit from the proceeds have maintained various actions in court.

Sir, we also wish to state categorically on behalf of our Clients that there are various ongoing cases at different courts in Nigeria on OPL 245 and to this effect, we need to correct the impression that all legal issues have been resolved specifically, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/201/2017 between Malabu Oil and Gas and the federal government and others.

“We wish to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also maintained criminal charges against some persons in respect of the purported sale.

“We wish to most respectfully inform you that the controversy surrounding the Oil Prospecting Licence OPL 245 led to the setting up of the Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives to investigate Malabu Oil & Gas via –a-vis the potential economic value of OPL 245 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“From the foregoing, it is evident that the remarks made by your esteemed self during the opening session of the Nigerian Energy Week are not only misleading but bereft of the factual situation on the ground.

“Furthermore, the said remarks is an affront on the authority of our Courts, having regard to the fact that the matter is sub judice before various courts in Nigeria.

“By Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), judicial powers in Nigeria are vested in our Courts who are meant to determine disputes between individuals and Government.

“Also, we are now in a democratic system of government where the Rule of Law prevails and not the Rule of force.

“From the various courts, it can be seen that the Federal Government of Nigeria is a party to the ongoing suits and therefore the said remarks made by your esteemed self, amount to writing judgment in your own favour notwithstanding the fact that you are a party to the suits.

“In view of the fact that the matters of OPL 245 are in Court, we do not need to go into further details to allow the Hon. Justices of the various courts to dispense justice.

“Take notice therefore that we are by this letter demanding that your esteemed self, issue a statement retracting your remarks made during the opening session of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week with the theme “Showcasing opportunities, driving investment, meeting demand.” which is in issue within 14 days from the receipt of this letter failure of which we shall take an action against you in a competent Court of Law without further recourse to our Clients.

“Accept the assurances of our highest esteem, ” the lawyer said.

...Read Full Article

Ahmed Musa, the Super Eagles captain, has clarified rumours that he has stepped aside from international duty.

Musa did not feature in any of Nigeria’s seven matches at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, where the team finished as runners-up.

The ex-CSKA Moscow winger last started a game for the national team in 2021 during a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.

He played 67 minutes in a 2-0 victory.

His most recent appearance was a seven-minute cameo in a friendly game against Guinea in January.

Musa has also been without a club since his contract with Turkish side Sivasspor was terminated in February.

But speaking with reporters after a friendly match he organized, Musa explained: “I only took a little break from the national team.

“But I didn’t exit the team.”

 ...Read Full Article

On Saturday, July 6, some gunmen kidnapped a chief priestess simply identified as Mrs Kuku and 11 others in Egbo community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred at about 4: pm, Daily Post can report.

It was learnt that the priestess and her followers were under the bridge between Egbo and Ekrokpe communities carrying out sacrifices to her river goddess when the gunmen struck. She and about five of her followers/worshippers were taken away.

Prior to the abduction of the priestess, five other persons had also been kidnapped by the gunmen who came in through the bush.

The gunmen also escaped through the bush, it was gathered.

In a telephone chat with Daily Post on Sunday afternoon, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the matter has not been reported.

He promised to find out and get back to our correspondent.

 ...Read Full Article

A woman from the United States has accused her Nigerian husband, named Samson Adewale Adebisi, of conspiring with his alleged mistress to deceive her and fraudulently obtain $50,000 meant for her In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

The lady lamented that she worked on the road as an independent insurance adjuster for years just to save the money for IVF, adding that Samson was the only person who knew that she had the money, knew the password and had the key to access the safe where the money was kept.

She alleged that Samson is a part of a larger ring of Nigerian syndicates that plot to scam American women through marrying them or having relationships with them.

She disclosed this in a video posted by an X user Chi Chi (@Sugargists) on Sunday, calling on fellow American women to start talking and reporting their similar experiences to the police so that the scammers can be held accountable for their actions.

Narrating her experience, she said, “I’ve said this repeatedly and I will keep saying it, I worked for years on the road as an independent insurance adjuster for years saving money for IVF for my IVF journey that I’ve known that I always was going to have to do.

“This man in 10 months has come along and taken that complete amount of 50-something thousand dollars that I had saved up for the IVF journey.

“I had found out that Samson Adewale Adebisi was having an affair with this particular Nigerian woman, and I asked him to leave the house and upon him leaving the house, I had found out that he had been stealing from me, already small-small amounts out of the $50,000.

“I’m guessing at that point to impress her or already have a plan in place for himself upon leaving with my money. And so, I asked him to return, at that point to get all of these things from my house once I realised that he was stealing from me.

“And at that, point upon him coming back to the home to retrieve the rest of his belongings, I was not present at that moment. I was in the parking lot of our complex, on the phone, discussing with my best friend the incident and what was going on. At that moment, still people have to understand that I was still in the midst of the marriage, in the mindset, right. I did not understand that I had a household enemy around me the whole time. I did not know that.

“This is what this man does. He’s a part of a larger ring of Nigerian men that are in groups that sit around on WhatsApp and they discuss what to do and how to plan to do this to American women, marry them or enter into relationships with them and then defraud them in some way or whatever they have this tangible or some sort of asset so that they can get scammed or leave these women heartbroken, desperately in deep financial circumstances, and definitely emotionally and psychologically abused.

“I want to be clear about this, that I am speaking out because most victims don’t speak up. They’re ashamed. They’re humiliated about what happened to them. And that allows you to be further victimised, right? Because you’re backed into a corner of shame by yourself, because you feel like you don’t want the world to know what these people do to you or what they’ve done to you.

“And then you know, you don’t want the judgment. You don’t want to hear that thousands would have, should have, could have, why didn’t you do this? And so absolutely, you know, we should protect ourselves as women, but when you’re in a moment, and a situation of trust of this is your husband this is somebody that’s going with you to doctor’s appointments, that is your most private and intimate things.

“This is somebody that you’re putting down on paperwork and position to trust that if something were to happen to you, this is the person that would make decisions for me because you believe and you’re being led to believe and you’re being situated in position and psychologically, you’ve given him a reason to believe that you’re in a real marriage with this individual and this person.

“Samson Adewale has repeatedly lied that he did not take and steal from me and that is a lie. In my circle of trust was God, myself and my husband. He’s the only person that knew that I had the money. He knew that word, as the key was to access my safe where the money was, and he was the only person I had shared that information with, because unfortunately, I expressed it again that I was in a marriage that I was in a lifelong commitment that I was truly with someone who loved me the way that I loved him.

“I told him I had some money in April, when I was going to have surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital. If something happened to me, of course, I wanted my husband to be okay. I knew his circumstances here. I knew that he was here undocumented, without papers that he was just here on a student visa. And that I knew that I was the sole financial support except for the fact that he was working illegally under someone else’s documentation for home health agencies. But I never received any of those monies from that.

“He was channelling the money into Bank of America and Chase accounts that I did not know about. So all of this is deeply painful, it’s hurtful, but I am determined to let everyone know what this man did to me. And on top of that, Samson is washing or cleaning the money stolen from me through his Nigerian mistress. Her name is Damilola Cole.

“This woman has opened accounts for him and she is channelling the money through it. They have been purchasing items and reselling the items on websites with the money taken from me. At this point, I want people to know what was done to me. I don’t want this to happen to any other woman as well. So I want to reveal what they did to me. I want everyone to know what he did to me. I am unafraid, I am unashamed, and I’m here to tell you.

“I don’t care because it takes me every single day to do a video. I’m going to get this out to as many people as possible to tell what they did to me. Samson Adewale stole over $50,000 from me; the money I’ve worked hard for. I have a baby, a child of my own, what happened to me in 10 months should not happen to anyone.

“You can leave absolutely; a person has a right to decide that they don’t want to continue on a journey with someone and into marriage or leave and go and be with another woman. That’s absolutely fine, but you don’t get to take and steal from me. You don’t get to take from the hard work that I’ve done to position myself to have a child and leave with my money.

“I do not know where Samson Adewale has left to, and he has stopped communicating with me. It was until I jumped on a tech talk and on a live recently to tell my story, to tell what happened that he came out to defend himself to say on a live he did not take my money.

“He then disappeared, I don’t have a phone number on him, nothing. So if you didn’t take any money from me, if I’m your wife, why did you stop communicating with me? Why don’t you? Why haven’t you come and said anything to me?

“These situations have got to stop as American women. We have got to start telling our stories. We’ve got to start acknowledging what’s happening to us and step out of the shame. We’ve got to start going to the police and reporting these incidents so that these scammers and these men who do this financial psychological abuse to us can be held accountable for their actions.”

American woman calls out her 9ja sc@mm€r ex husband, Adewale Adebisi and his mistress Damilola cole for stealing her money and running off 😭😭 #7th of July #aunty Ada #lekki wives #rccg #sophia pic.twitter.com/nOmssY15v2 — Chi Chi (@Sugargists) July 7, 2024

 ...Read Full Article

On Sunday, July 7, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, shared spiritual insights with his congregants emphasising how believers can ensure sufficient supplies and receive answers to their needs through faith.

During his sermon, titled “The Bible: A Most Reliable Guide to Life,” Oyedepo highlighted the importance of relying on God’s words to solve life’s problems.

He emphasised that he has never misappropriated church funds, nor has his family ever prayed for food supplies, citing biblical references as guidance.

“Every sincere question has an answer with Jesus,” Oyedepo stated. “Who pays me? Suddenly the word came—after these things, He appointed seventy others also, and the laborer is worthy of his wages. So He said to me, ‘You are in my employment; I am responsible. Just stay on duty, the light of life.’ Since then, I have not looked for who pays me until tomorrow and until I go to heaven.”

He referred to Luke 10:7, displayed on the church’s monitoring screen: “Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”

“I have never prayed for what to eat in my family. The light of life, the five loaves, and two fishes were more than enough. I have never cornered church money of one naira to my side, the light of life.”

Oyedepo also addressed church growth, sharing insights from a book titled “Reach Out for the Light.” He mentioned four key points that can help grow a church even in challenging environments, encouraging the congregation to seek the light of life.

Quoting John 6:63, he concluded, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

I’ve never cornered church funds, prayed for what to eat – Oyedepo pic.twitter.com/oInv40Qrmd — Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) July 7, 2024

 ...Read Full Article

Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government for another one-year tenure.

Tinubu, whose first tenure is to elapse on July 9, 2024, was elected by a unanimous decision of fellow Heads of Government at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority held at the State House, Abuja, on Sunday.

In his acceptance speech, the President said, “I have accepted to continue to deliver on this service with the great men and women on this democratic journey, to serve our interest and build democratic values on the structure we inherited.”

Presidency sources had on Saturday night told our correspondent that Tinubu may be elected for another tenure.

“Some people say he should hand over, and others say he should continue. But they will decide tomorrow,” said the source who preferred to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak on the issue.

Tinubu was elected Chairman of the Authority at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held last July in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

Details shortly…