Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
The Police in Ado-Ekiti have arraigned seven men in an
Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court on a three count charge of alleged murder, theft and assault.
The police prosecutor, Mr David Erinma, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 13 at Oke Ayedun-Ekiti. He gave the names of the accused persons as Ojo Kolawole, Owolabi Ojo, Onipede Taiwo, Ogunlusi Yemisi, Abayomi Abiodun, Kupoluyi Sola and Femi Ajiboye.
Erinma alleged that the accused attempted to murder one Mrs Grace Audu by inflicting grievous injuries on her body in a manner likely to endanger her life.
FCT
The Women and Children Economic Development Centre
in Jikwoyi, Abuja, last Thursday said it planned to support 3,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the FCT.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Officer, Mr. Henry Akani, told newsmen that most of the OVC were identified by the heads of the communities where the organisation worked.
He said most of the children were from Jikwoyi, Karu, Karshi, Kurudu and Nyanya communities in the outskirts of the FCT and disclosed that the organisation visited its beneficiaries biweekly at home and in their schools, to support them with their needs.
Kano
The Kano State Government has approved N461 million
for the construction of Hawan Ganji-Badari Road in Gwarzo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Umar Jibrin, announced this when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting of the state Executive Council in Kano last Wednesday.
Jibrin said that the council also approved N157 million for the erection of street lights on Sharada and Sheikh Jafar roads in the metropolis as well as N53 million for the training of 2,200 traditional birth attendants.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has sacked two
commissioners in a minor cabinet reshuffle.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Press Affairs , Alhaji Abdulhamid Danjuma, the affected commissioners are those of Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Maikudi, and Women Affairs, Dr Asma’u Abdullahi.
The statement said the governor had also moved the Commissioner for information, Alhaji Gide Sani, to the Ministry for Water Resources while Alhaji Hussaini Garba was moved to Information from Health.
Others re-deployed include commissioners for water resources and that of youth and sports, Alhaji Jamilu Danmusa and Alhaji Mannir Talba, who moved to environment and health ministries, respectively. It also said that the Commissioner for Environment, Aminu Safana, would now be in charge of youths and sports.
Kwara
Six commercial motorcyclists were last Thursday
remanded in prison by an Omu-Aran Upper Area Court in Kwara over alleged destruction of FRSC properties in the community.
The accused were arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, trespass, mischief, obstruction of public servants from performing their lawful duties as well as assault and intimidation.
Those that appeared in court are Bayo Babatunde, 28; Samuel Adebayo, 32; Kehinde Samuel 19; and Kolawole Lekan, 23. Others are Chinedu Mudekalu, 30; and 25-year-old Oyinloye Kazeem.
The prosecutor,Insp Adeola Adeboye, said the motorcyclists numbering more than 50 and led by Babatunde stormed the office on Sunday and beat up one Fasusi Olamide, an officer of the FRSC.
Adeboye said the offences contravened sections 97, 348, 327, 148, 267 and 397 of the Penal Code.
The judge, Mr Mustapha Adegboyega, ordered the accused to be remanded in Omu-Aran Medium Prison and adjourned the case to October 8.
Lagos
Deputy Editor in-Chief and Head of the Lagos office of the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Dele Bodunde, has commended women as good organisers who could be trusted with leadership positions.
Bodunde spoke while receiving a delegation of women journalists from the Cameroon on a working visit to Nigeria, at the agency’s Lagos office recently
The women journalists were led on the visit by Mrs Dupe Olaoye, chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos Chapter.
He noted that women in NAN had equal opportunities as their male counterparts, and had been trusted with crucial positions, including being the agency’s foreign correspondents.
Earlier, Olaoye said they were in NAN to acknowledge the contributions of the agency and its recognition of the place of women in national development.
Nasarawa
The National Human Rights Commission last Wednesday
said it would partner with the Nasarawa State Government to tackle security challenges in the state.
Director of Conflict, Ethics and Good Governance of the commission, Mrs Tina Nwodu, said this while exchanging views with Mr. Sani Yakubu-Awa, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in Lafia.
She said that the commission was concerned about the loss of lives and destruction of properties taking place in the state, noting that crisis caused all kinds of abuses on law-abiding citizens, with children and women being the most affected victims.
Nwodu explained that the group would meet with the community and women leaders, market associations and youth groups to discuss on peace and unity of the people of the state.
“Crisis does not just erupt, it has traces, and early warning responses will assist to get first hand information for it to be nipped in the bud,” she said.
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said the
establishment of the new University of Education, Minna, would tackle the dearth of qualified teachers in public schools.
Aliyu made the remark after signing the bill on the State University of Education into law that establishes the new university at the Government House, Minna.
He said the new university would take off from the site of the College of Education, Minna and would produce the needed teachers in the state.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Usman, said the assembly passed 30 bills from 2007 to date.
Usman said the law on the specialised university empowered the government to set aside at least two per cent of its budget for the funding of the university.
Ogun
The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr.
Suraj Adekunbi, said that the state government would continue to ensure even spread of development projects across the state.
Adekunbi said in Abeokuta last Thursday that government would not discriminate against any senatorial district in the provision of infrastructure, and added that the legislature would continue to support the executive in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
“The project at hand is Ogun State project; we have to do our best as legislators to cooperate with the executive without any manipulation. When there is good relationship between the legislature and the executive, the result will be obvious for people to see,” he said.
The speaker urged individuals and organisations in the state to promptly pay their taxes to the appropriate channel to enable the government fulfill its own obligations.
Osun
The police in Osogbo last Wednesday arraigned four
suspected armed robbers in an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly being in possession of firearms.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Joshua Oladoye, who gave the names of the accused persons as Adejuwon Ismail, 32, Adebiyi Tunde, 23, Abayomi Adekande, 22 and Onoh Johnson, 25, told the court that the accused were caught with firearms on August 8, at about 12:40 p.m. at Ilesha Breweries area in the Ilesha West Local Government Area of Osun.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, while their Counsel, Ms Modupe Olanrewaju, applied for their bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum. He adjourned the case to October 23 for mention.
Oyo
The Chairman, Iseyin Local Government Council of Oyo
State, Alhaji Saheed Yusuff, said the tuberculosis (TB) centre being built in the area was to tackle the spread of the disease.
Yusuff, who spoke last Thursday on the sidelines of his inspection tour of the centre, said the project would cost the council about N10 million.
He said it, was important for government at all levels to curb the spread of the disease and manage those suffering from it adding that the centre located at Oke-Aro Isalu area of Iseyin metropolis would be one of the best in the country when completed.
The chairman expressed optimism that the centre would not only serve the purpose of treating TB patients, but also develop into a research centre.
Yusuff also said a maternity centre was under construction at Oke-Oja area, adding that it was important to take health- related issues seriously.
The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.
Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.
“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.
Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.
“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.
Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.
He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.
While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.
“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.
He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.
“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.
Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.
“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.
The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.
Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.
Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.
The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.
The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.
Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.
Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.
Nation
2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.
The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.
He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.
Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.
“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.
“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.
“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.
“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.
“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.
Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).
“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
