A security man, Henry Musa, has been arrested by the Police in Niger State.

The man was nabbed for allegedly stealing a vehicle entrusted in his custody in Anambra State at Sabon-Wuse in Niger State.

The command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) SP Wasiu Abiodun in Minna said the suspect was picked based on reliable information received by the police attached to the Sabon-Wuse in Tafa local government Division.

He explained that Musa was arrested on Tuesday 2nd July,2024 with a Toyota Camry vehicle bearing Reg. No. LND 851 CJ, is suspected to have been stolen from Anambra State.

The PRO stated that the suspect was seen at Dikko, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in the Tafa area of Niger State with duplicate copies of the document to sell the vehicle.

According to him ”The Police operatives of the Division were quickly mobilised to the area and the suspect was taken into custody with the vehicle”

”During interrogation, he confessed that he was a security man in a hotel at Awka and that the key of the vehicle was entrusted to him by the owner But he decided to take the vehicle away, and was going to Dikko to dispose of it”.

He added that the suspect is under investigation and will be transferred to SCID for further investigation and prosecution immediately after the investigations.

Popular singer, Paul Okoye’s fiancée, Ivy Ifeoma has confirmed her pregnancy.

This is as she showed off her baby bump in a recent video.

It would be recalled that news had it that she was expecting a baby with the Afrobeats musician.

They had both held their wedding introductions some months ago, during which Paul Okoye had gone to meet the family of his fiancée, Ivy Ifeoma.

Read some comments from netizens below:

Miss Editemi wrote: “Pregnancy suits her. So pretty

Ruth Lala05 wrote: “Safe delivery”.

ojiugo_01 said: “She wants to give birth”

Watch the video below:

Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has been summoned by the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs Social Development, to appear before the panel on Tuesday, July 9, to give a detailed breakdown on the alleged diversion of about N1.5 billion meant for payment of contractors.

The chairman of the committee, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara (APC, Lagos) gave the directive at an interactive session with officials of the ministry.

Ogbara said the minister is expected to come with relevant documents to defend the whereabouts of the money.

The interactive session followed a petition by contractors of the ministry to the House over non-payment for contracts executed running into billions of Naira.

The committee also ordered the Ministry to stop all contract processes contained in 2024, until the issue of the alleged diverted money is resolved.

The committee also asked the minister to come before it with details of the special account allegedly opened for the Chibok girls as well as the memorandum of understanding signed with the American University of Nigeria for the training of the girls.

The committee chairman alleged that the Ministry initiated new contracts not captured in the 2023 budget and diverted the N1.5bn into those contracts instead of using the money to pay old contractors.

Hon. Kafilat Ogbara said the Ministry awarded fresh contracts in 15 states of the federation, similarly not captured in the 2023 appropriation while owing contractors.

“Money for contractors has not been paid and money released has been diverted. So how do you pay these contractors”, she asked.

She disclosed that there is an ongoing probe of the Ministry by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on overhead release of November/December 2023 to the tune of N1.5bn.

She said the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding MoU with the American University of Nigeria, Yola for the payment of Chibok girls’ school fees for seven years.

The committee is probing the N1.5 billion allegedly meant for the payment of contractors but allegedly diverted by officials of the Ministry.

Responding to some of the allegations, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Amb. Gabriel Aduda explained that in 2023, the ministry’s total budget was N13.6 billion with N3.4 billion, translating to 25 percent, while the unreleased balance stood at N10.2 billion”.

Director of Finance of the Ministry, Aloy Ifeakandu said he only complies with official directives from his superiors. He added that the records are available.

He said: “I resumed the ministry in September 2023, I wouldn’t know what happened before I came. The individual contractors have their files, it can be traced, as at the time I took over, there was no balance in the vote.”

Due to fuel shortages, long queues have resurfaced at petrol stations in Nigeria’s capital city.

Daily Trust had reported how the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) is struggling with a staggering $6 billion petrol payment backlog.

The development is coming few months after Nigerians have experienced fuel crisis when a litre hit more than N800 and above N1,000 at black markets.

Since the removal of fuel subsidy, Nigerians have been faced with high cost of living with high transportation cost and sharp increase in prices of goods and services.

See photos below:

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II has revealed that the challenges confronting Nigeria at this critical time is surmountable.

According to him, with the right commitment, attitude, and leadership, the country has a better chance of overcoming its challenges.

Sanusi, made the assertion when he received on a courtesy visit, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, in the company of his counterpart, Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mohammed Tajuddeen Othman, at the Emir’s palace,

The monarch said the challenges faced by the country were inherited, stressing that the solution is not to go into lamentation over what happened in the past and do nothing about it.

He said, “I’m confident that the people of Kano, with our history, our resilience, and attitude can overcome the challenges and become things of the past.”

Sanusi said, “If we just keep looking at the problems (poverty, hunger, malnutrition, out-of-school children, illiteracy) and we think there is nothing we can do, but the reality is, with the right attitude, commitment, leadership, and support of all, these are not insurmountable problems.

”Nations have gone through worse, and they have come out of it. Even in this country, look at parts of the country ravaged by terrorism, which Allah has guided us to, and we hope Allah spares this and also spares those parts of the country and releases them.”

The monarch hailed the Kano State government for the bold steps taken in education, especially girl child education, saying it is a solution to the nation’s myriad problems.

He called on the private sector and philanthropists to complement the government’s efforts in the areas of building schools, school feeding, and investment in transportation in order to address the present challenges facing Nigerians.

Afam Victor Ogene, the Leader of the Labour Party Caucus of the House of Representatives, has said the victory of opposition Labour Party in the United Kingdom, UK, is a sign that its Nigerian version would triumph in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, Friday, Ogene said the election told vivid tales of hope for the opposition, and competence and integrity of the electoral umpires in the UK, in a manner that elicits public confidence and trust in the electoral process.

“Unlike what was witnessed in Nigeria in the last general elections, the process in UK was free of glitches, as about 40 million voters took part. Polls closed around 10 pm Thursday and by daybreak, the results were out.

“There was no judicial ambush, as immediate transition took place to the admiration of all lovers of democracy and free and fair elections.

“If we must practice democracy, we must also love, copy and abide by the transparency and accountability of democratic institutions in nations of the world that allow the rule of law and democratic principles to thrive.

“In deed, one of the potent lessons of the British elections is the fact that, the concept of ‘snatch it, grab it, and run away with it,’ has no place in modern democratic practice,” he said.

Relating the development in the UK to the 2027 election in Nigeria, Ogene said: “I urge the Nigerian Labour Party to draw inspiration from its British counterparts, close ranks, rally the people, and prepare to take the reins of power in 2027.

“Let us work together to build a better future for our nation, guided by the principles of democracy, transparency, and accountability.”

Ogene congratulated Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party in Britain, for his party’s victory over the outgoing UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party, in what has been described as the most emphatic election victory by any British political party this century.

The opposition Labour Party won a huge parliamentary majority in the UK general election, unseating the incumbent Conservatives after 14 years.

While the Labour Party got 412 seats, the incumbent Conservatives got just 121.

A video has captured the heartwarming moment residents residing in the Mushin area of Lagos State came out in their numbers to applaud men of the state police command for thwarting an abduction attempt in the area.

According to an X user, suspected kidnappers had stormed the area to abduct a businessman on Oloje Street, Papa Ajao.

The kidnappers exchanged gunfire with the police, who reportedly eliminated 6 out of the 7 kidnappers.

Watch the video of residents of the area applauding the gallant police officers below;

William Ruto, the President of Kenya, has announced the country’s National Treasury will cut spending to make room for key commitments after anti-government protests.

In a live address from the state house, Ruto said the government will present a proposal to the national assembly to approve massive expenditure cuts after the withdrawal of the 2024 finance bill.

“Over the last few days, our treasury team has been assessing the adverse impact of either reducing the budget by the entire Sh346 billion or borrowing the full amount,” he stated on Friday.

“We have since struck a middle ground and will be proposing to the National Assembly a budget cut of Sh177 billion and borrow the difference. The additional borrowing will increase our fiscal deficit from 3.3 per cent to 4.6 per cent and will be used to protect the funding of critical government services,” President Ruto stated.

President Ruto listed several critical government initiatives that will receive continued funding, including the hiring of medical interns, support for dairy farmers, road infrastructure projects, fertilizer subsidies, and settlements of debts owed to farmers in various sectors.

In addition to the financial adjustments, President Ruto also removed budgets for the offices of the first lady, and the second lady.

Dissolution of 47 State Corporations to eliminate overlapping functions and reduce operational costs.

Suspension of filling Chief Administrative Secretaries positions.

50 per cent reduction in government advisors within the public service.

Removal of budget lines for offices of First Lady, spouses of Deputy President, and Prime Cabinet Secretary.
 
Suspension of non-essential travel and participation in public contributions by state and public officers.

“These measures are part of our commitment to enhance efficiency and transparency in serving the people of Kenya,” President Ruto affirmed.

“We are determined to improve the quality of services and ensure maximum value for the resources entrusted to us.”