News Rider

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has solicited for prayers, unity and tolerance as Christians commemorate the resurrection of the death of Jesus Christ.  This is even as the council encouraged Nigerians to use the Easter period to rededicate their lives to God and imbibe Christ’s virtues of love, compassion and sacrifice. National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Mrs Chinyere Oge-Kalu pleaded with Nigerians on Sunday in Abuja to pray for the nation and its leaders. She stated that partisan politics should pave the way for patriotism and nation building, which she believed would lead the country to the path of recovery and sustainable growth, and curb insecurity. “Council prays that the joy, peace and hope of Easter will inspire and spur governments at all levels to deliver democratic dividends to the suffering masses who have been asked by all administrations since Independence in 1960 to make sacrifice,” she said. Oge-Kalu informed that IPAC is committed to consolid...

The Leader of Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele has enjoined Christians to imbibe sacrificial lifestyle and the pains Jesus Christ passed through on the cross of Calvary.  In his message on Sunday in Abuja, he described Easter as a day celebrated in remembrance of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bamidele noted that the price Jesus Christ paid saved humanity from eternal damnation, assuring that the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians will soon fizzle out.  “It is pertinent for us as individuals and citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pick one or two lessons from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, though it was a painful sacrifice but the sacrifice paved the way for our external redemption. “It is in the interest of nation building for both the leaders and followers to learn the importance of sacrifice as panacea to lay foundation for the future of any nation. “The sacrifice we are undergoing today may be painful just as it was...

The military authorities has flown the embattled traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo to Abuja for interrogation.  Ikolo, who is the Ovie of Ewu-Urhobo in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State was declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in connection with the murder of 17 soldiers at Okuama in the state. As one of the eight suspects identified in the killings, the monarch had surrendered himself to the Delta State Police Command in Asaba on Thursday, March 28, 2024 and was received by the Police Commissioner, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi. In a swift reaction, the DHQ was notified about the development and the suspect was subsequently flown to Abuja on Friday morning for questioning.  Ikolo was said to have been escorted to Asaba Airport by the Commanding Officer, 63 Brigade Nigeria Army, Asaba; the Delta State Commissioner of Police and other senior military officers. The Urhukpe 1 traditional ruler later boarded a comme...

A Lagos-based man, Ugochukwu Onuoha has been jailed infinitum for raping a five-year-old minor.  Justice Rahman Oshodi of Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court delivered the judgment on Tuesday.  He said that the prosecution established beyond reasonable doubt, the charge of defilement against Onuoha. Oshodi stated that the prosecutrix (survivor), who is Onuoha's neighbours daught8er, was a child at the time of the incident. He disclosed that the prosecutrix’s mothers' evidence that Onuoha apologised and promised not to commit the crime again was an admission which corroborated the prosecutrix’s evidence. “There is abundant evidence that the defendant committed the crime. “I believed the prosecutrix when she testified before me as she was resolute that it was the defendant that penetrated her vagina with his penis. “She maintained this during cross-examination and gave further details to embellish her evidence in chief. “The evidence shows that the defe...

Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor is dead.  He died at the age of 62 after a prolonged battle with kidney disease and was already undergoing dialysis. News Rider reports that the actor's sudden death comes a few days after a viral video where he solicited for funds to assist him with a Kidney transplant. The death of one of the foremost celebrities was announced by a social commentator, Morris Monye via his X handle on Sunday. Monye wrote: “Deeply heartbroken by the news of Amaechi Muonagor’s passing. “He was a talented Nollywood actor whose presence on our screens was truly masterful. “We watched with concern as he battled health issues, offering whatever support we could to help him seek treatment in India. “This tragic loss highlights the need for better healthcare in our country." Briefly Muonagor was born on August 20, 1962. He hails from Idemili in Anambra State.  After his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1989, he joined the services of News Ag...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos has concluded arrangement to parley over 100 stakeholders on rebuilding electoral confidence ahead of the Edo and Ondo States off-cycle elections this year. The multi-stakeholders dialogue on: "Rebuilding Trust in the Electoral Processes, Institutions and Elections", will also provide an opportunity for the electoral umpire to unveil their preparatory activities towards the 2027 general elections. Following the success of the inaugural session in Abuja, this subsequent edition aims to further stimulate meaningful discussions on how to reinforce commitments and approaches to multi-stakeholder collaboration for enhancing confidence in the electoral processes.  The International Press Centre (IPC) is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting media freedom, democracy, and transparency in Nigeria. Scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2024, the forum will garner submissions and recommendations on how d...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu  President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr Olugbile Holloway as the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Until his elevation, Holloway was the Managing Director of Evoke Communications Limited, a creative brand and consultancy agency. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja.  He said that the new appointee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. President Tinubu expects that the new director-general will rejig the agency and facilitate the preservation, promotion and development of Nigeria’s diverse tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

There is mounting anger and tension as 17 soldiers paid the supreme price for protecting two coastal communities in Delta State.  News Rider reports that the military personnel were killed by irate youths during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuama communities in Delta State on Thursday, March 14, 2024.  The lifeless bodies of the 14 murdered soldiers were recovered in the early hours of Saturday, March 9, by the joint task force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam at Okuama community.  Some of the recovered corpses were said to have been beheaded while the stomachs and hearts of others were ripped off. At the NDDC jetty in the coastal Delta community, the bodies of the commanding officer and the two murdered Majors were seen floating by the river bank as others were separated on land. It was learnt that the slain military personnel responded to a distress call af...

 Mrs Zubaida Umar  President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mrs Zubaida Umar as the first female Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Umar has over 20 years of work experience in diverse fields including human resources,  finance and administration. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale said on Friday in Abuja, that Umar is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and Institute of Credit Administration. As the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Umar repositioned the bank into a modern, and digitised mortgage and financial service provider. The President expected that the new Director-General would bring the much-needed financial and operational discipline and refashion the agency into a performance-driven and proactive emergency response provider with a focus on prevention and climate change readiness.

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Senator Abdul Ningi  The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has requested for an independent probe over intricacies surrounding the alleged N3.7 trillion budget padding by the National Assembly. News Rider reports that the former Senate Deputy Leader and Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) had on Saturday March 9, granted an interview to the BBC (Hausa Service), alleging a N3.7 trillion infraction into the 2024 budget.  In order to avert further embarrassment, the Senate on Tuesday, March 12, suspended Ningi  for three months and barred him from participating in all the activities of the 10th Senate. But the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Debo Ologunagba on Friday in Abuja, described the suspension of Ningi as a desperate move to suppress investigation, conceal and sweep the facts under the carpet.  He condemned the suspension of Senator Ningi by the All Progressives Cong...

Late Oba Olalekan Balogun The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olalekan Balogun has joined his ancestors. He died on Thursday evening, March 15, at the age of 82. His media aide, Dele Ogunsola said that Oba Balogun died at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan few hours after he was admitted.  News Rider reports that the first-class traditional ruler died barely 72 hours after completing two years on the throne as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.  In accordance with Islamic rites, the late Olubadan will be buried on Friday evening in Ibadan at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4 p.m, according to a family member.  The younger brother to the deceased, Dr Kola Balogun confirmed that the late Olubadan bowed out gracefully on Thursday evening at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan after a brief illness. He noted that the late traditional ruler was taken to the hospital after having stayed indoors throughout Tuesday on account of a slight malaria feve...

Slain Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim The Police have recovered the remains of the former Ahoada Divisional Police Officer (DPO) SP Bako Angbashim, who was killed by cultists. News Ride r reports that Angbashim was reportedly murdered by infamous Iceland cult leader, Gift Okpara also known as 2Baba. The police later gunned down the criminal mastermind two years after a N100 million bounty was placed on him. Spokesperson of Rivers Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that the slain officer was recovered on March 10, following a well-coordinated joint search operation led by tactical squads and personnel from the Force Intelligence Bureau. She disclosed that the operation targeted the camp of the deceased cult leader located inside the forest of Odiemude community in Ahoada. “Through diligent search efforts, a burial site within the gang’s shrine was discovered, where the remains of Angbashim were located and subsequently exhumed. “One ...