News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja         Sammie Okposo and Wife, Ozioma Nigerian gospel artiste, Sammie Okposo has tendered unreserved and public apology to his wife, Ozioma for absconding with an American-based lady and desecrating their marital vows.  This is coming barely 24-hours after a lady identified as African Doll accused Okposo of impregnating and dumping her. In an interview with Obodo Oyibo TV’ on Monday, African Doll claimed that the gospel singer became hostile to her after she told him she was pregnant. She said that they met in Dallas during one of Okposo’s tours, became close and started an affair, which resulted to the pregnancy.  Famous for one of his sound tracks, ‘Wellu Wellu', Okposo, who posted the apology via his Instagram handle, sammieokposo,  also extended his apology to all the preachers of the gospel for his moral failure and behaviour, just as he pleaded to God for forgiveness.  To this end, the gospel singer stated ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Safe disposal method and burning of lassa rats to avoid outbreaks. As the lassa fever outbreak spreads, the federal government has commenced campaign in eleven States identified as high-risk areas, just as 113 persons have died from the scourge so far.  The deaths cut across 27 local government areas in 11 States of Bauchi, Edo, Ondo, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi, Cross River, Ebonyi and Oyo.  According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) report of 16th January,  2022; 96 confirmed cases and 11 deaths were recorded from 3rd to 16th January, 2022, in addition to 510 confirmed cases and 102 deaths that occurred from January 2021 to 2nd January, 2022.  Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents (rats) that can be found in homes, motor parks, offices and even places of worship.  Minister of State for the Environment, Chief Sharon IKeazor stated this at the flag-off of 'National Environmental Sanitation Response to ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Mohammed  The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has sought for more federal government intervention projects in other parts of the state in order to address constant erosion and flooding experienced in some communities close to the river bank.  He disclosed this in Jama’are town, Bauchi over the weekend, during the commissioning and handover of erosion-control project executed by the Ecological Project Office (EPO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Represented by his Deputy, Senator Baba Tela, he said that Jama’are town is close to the river, which is why its prone to environmental degradation due to excessive water discharged from the river.  The governor stated that with the project, the fear of flooding and its resultant loss of lives, destruction of houses and farm produce would be allayed, even as it would boost economic opportunities in the community.  While handing over the project, the...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Member representing Toro Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon Umar Muda Lawal (left) presenting the handover certificate of Erosion-control and Rehabilitation Works along Rimi Zayam, Polchi and Gwalfadako River Bridge (Phase I & II) to the Village Head of Tulai, Alhaji Jafaar Idris (2nd left) while the Director of Pollution Control Department, Ecological Project Office (EPO) Mr. Abubakar Takum (right) and others watch with keen interest in Bauchi yesterday.  President Muhammadu Buhari has assured better deal for Bauchi communities, adding that no part of the country would be neglected irrespective of its geographical location or political inclination. He stated this in Bauchi yesterday at the commissioning and handover of flood-control projects executed by the Ecological Project Office (EPO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The projects cut across Rimi Zayam, Polchi and Gwalfadako communit...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja                 Ikeazor Worried by the activities of illegal vandals on Nigeria's pipeline and the need to curb the constant soot experienced in the Niger Delta areas, the federal government has disclosed its intention to engage the services of government institutions to establish 18 modular refineries in six major oil-producing States. The states, which comprise of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo and Cross River are expected to get three modular refineries each, bringing the total number of modular refineries to 18. This is even as the refineries would be 100 per cent designed and manufactured in Nigeria using the expertise of government institutions such as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal University of Petroleum Effurun and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Others are Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Nigerian Content Deve...

      Kanu The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu to February 16, 2022. Justice Binta Nyako said this was to enable the court to consider the application filed by the defence counsel to quash the charges filed by the federal government against Kanu. The court added that the prosecution counsel must serve the defence counsel five days before the hearing. SaharaReporters earlier reported that Kanu pleaded not guilty to the 15-count amended charge bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, brought against him by the federal government. Kanu, who was docked before trial Justice Nyako, said he was innocent of all the allegations the government levelled against him after the charge was read to him in the open court. The Buhari-led government had filed fresh terrorism charges against the detained IPOB leader before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday. Consequently, the action inc...

      Justice Benson Anya of the Abia State High Court has ruled that the invasion of the security agents to the residence of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in 2017 was unlawful and an infringement on his human rights. The judge on Wednesday also ruled that his abduction and forceful return to Nigeria was "illegal" under local and international laws. Anya also ruled that the federal government should pay Kanu the sum of N1billion as compensation for the violation of his fundamental human rights. Recall that Kanu's Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor filed the lawsuit against the federal government on August 27, 2021 before the Abia court. SaharaReporters had reported that the judge rejected the challenge by the federal government on the jurisdiction to hear Kanu’s case. Ejimakor had argued that Kanu could not be tried in Nigeria as there was no crime he had committed known to both Nigerian and international laws. He added that the gover...