COURT REMANDS SERVING SENATOR IN PRISON OVER NYSC CERTIFICATE FORGERY
COURT REMANDS SERVING SENATOR IN PRISON OVER NYSC CERTIFICATE FORGERY A High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has remanded a serving Senator, Benson Konbowei, in Kuje Correctional Centre for alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, exemption certificate. The Bayelsa Central Senator was arraigned before Justice Christopher Oba on March 26, 2024. In the charge marked: CR/028/2023, the Inspector General of Police accused Konbowei of fraudulently forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008. The police said the Senator acted contrary to the provisions of Sections 366,156 and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and was liable to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act. Upon his arraignment earlier on Tuesday, the Senator pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court allowed him to go home and fixed the hearing of his bail application for Thursday, March 28, 2024. After listening to counsels in the matter, the Senator was granted N50m bail with two sureties by the court. Justice Oba said the sureties must own landed properties with Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory. The judge, however, ordered that the Senator be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.The matter was adjourned till June 24, 25 and 27 for hearing.
COURT REMANDS SERVING SENATOR IN PRISON OVER NYSC CERTIFICATE
COURT REMANDS SERVING SENATOR IN PRISON OVER NYSC CERTIFICATE FORGERY A High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has remanded a serving Senator, Benson Konbowei, in Kuje Correctional Centre for alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, exemption certificate. The Bayelsa Central Senator was arraigned before Justice Christopher Oba on March 26, 2024. In the charge marked: CR/028/2023, the Inspector General of Police accused Konbowei of fraudulently forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008. The police said the Senator acted contrary to the provisions of Sections 366,156 and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and was liable to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act. Upon his arraignment earlier on Tuesday, the Senator pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court allowed him to go home and fixed the hearing of his bail application for Thursday, March 28, 2024. After listening to counsels in the matter, the Senator was granted N50m bail with two sureties by the court. Justice Oba said the sureties must own landed properties with Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory. The judge, however, ordered that the Senator be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.The matter was adjourned till June 24, 25 and 27 for hearing.
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- March 30, 2024
- 130 views
KING CHARLES HAS ONLY TWO YEARS TO LIVE, FUNERAL PLANS UNVEILED
KING CHARLES HAS ONLY TWO YEARS TO LIVE, FUNERAL PLANS UNVEILED King Charles III has only been Britain’s reigning monarch for 18 months, yet his funeral plans are already set amid his battle with pancreatic cancer. Named “Operation Menai Bridge,” the monarch’s funeral processions will look similar to Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremonies, dubbed “Operation London Bridge.” As his cancer progresses, royal insiders tell In Touch that Charles’ final resting plans are of timely prioritization. “It’s a fairly common thing to do among the British royalty, but in Charles’ case expediency is necessary,” says the source, who notes that “some courtiers believe Charles’ cancer is worse than they’re making it out to be.” “Operation Menai Bridge” is set to include familiar protocols. When the monarch dies, Charles’ body will be moved from the throne room at Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. He will lie in state, and his official funeral will take place nine days later. He will likely be buried in the royal vault at Windsor Castle. “It will have all the pomp and circumstance befitting a British monarch,” adds the source. The update comes shortly after a separate high ranking royal insider told In Touch that Charles is not only battling pancreatic cancer – a timely update given that he did not share what kind of cancer he was diagnosed with – but has a mere two years to live. “King Charles is much sicker than the palace lets on and simply isn’t up to the job of running his fractious family, the crown’s business interests and fulfilling the daily duties of the monarchy,” the member of the royal inner circle revealed in early March. “His cancer is eating him alive. He’s very frail. The situation is desperate.” Royal watchers have begun to witness his decline, too. Though he will be stepping out on Easter Sunday for a service at Windsor, the king is missing from the royal calendar for the foreseeable future, instead relying heavily on his sister, Princess Anne, to do the work of the royal family. While many would have assumed his heir, Prince William, would be stepping up to the plate, he too is missing from the royal schedule due to Princess Kate Middleton’s own cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, additional sources told In Touch that more could be at play between Charles and William outside of the family’s respective health crises, as the king is under the impression William is not ready to take the throne. “Charles knows the pressures of being the monarch, and he just isn’t sure William is ready to take his place,” the third insider revealed, noting that William is “currently facing a public relations disaster.” “It seems premature, and there could be consequences.” With such an update, the future of the monarchy seems shaky at best, and even Queen Camilla is said to be frustrated by Charles’ declining health and weakened status. “Behind the scenes, Camilla is disgusted by the king’s apparent weakness and is providing him little comfort as he battles his fatal cancer,” a palace courtier told In Touch in early March, highlighting her vacation from royal duties which started on March 4.“By going on holiday, she was thumbing her nose at stepson William, who is incapable of shouldering the monarchy’s burdens on his own.”
SENATE MAKES U-TURN, REVEALS PLAN TO RECALL NINGI AFTER ULTIMATUM
SENATE MAKES U-TURN, REVEALS PLAN TO RECALL NINGI AFTER ULTIMATUM Reports indicate that the Senate is poised to revoke the three-month suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP – Bauchi Central), a recent development disclosed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio upon his return from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Speaking to journalists, Akpabio stated that the Senate will imminently review Ningi’s suspension, imposed following his allegations of a N3.7 trillion padding in the 2024 budget. Ningi, through his legal representative, Femi Falana SAN, issued a letter last Thursday, giving Akpabio seven days to rescind the suspension or face legal consequences. While Akpabio acknowledged the letter’s existence, he emphasized that the issue is receiving the Senate’s attention, expressing optimism that Ningi will resume his duties earlier than anticipated.He remarked, “It is a parliamentary decision. I have not seen the letter yet. But Senator Ningi is one of us. I mean what is suspension? I believe that in a few days he will join us. So, there is no problem. It would be resolved amicably. The Senate is a family.”
WHY I IGNORED LABOUR PARTY CONVENTION – PETER OBI
WHY I IGNORED LABOUR PARTY CONVENTION — PETER OBI Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 elections has declared his stance on the recent national convention of the party that saw Barr Julius Abure emerge as Julius Abure emerge as national chairman. Addressing Nigerians on X Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday, Peter Obi said he ignored the convention because the party leadership under Abure failed to do wide consultation with key stakeholders of the party before embarking on the said convention.The former Anambra Governor emphasised the need for the right thing to be done to salvage the party, adding that he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party.
PDP APPOINTS CARETAKER COMMITTEES FOR STATES, LGAS, WARDS
PDP APPOINTS CARETAKER COMMITTEES FOR STATES, LGAS, WARDS The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the appointment of the Executives whose tenures have expired in some State, Local Government and Ward chapters to serve as Caretaker Committees in the affected States, LGAs and Wards respectively. The appointment was pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Party on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC). The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon Debo Ologunagba, said that the Caretaker Committees have been mandated to run the affairs of the Party at their appropriate levels for a period of 3 (three) months as follows: ABIA – Local Government Area (LGA): With effect from March 22, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 15, 2024 AKWA IBOM – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024 ; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 BAUCHI – LGA: With effect from March 22, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 BAYELSA – State: With effect from March 23, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 BENUE- LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 CROSS RIVER – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 DELTA- LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 EKITI – Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 ENUGU – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 GOMBE- State: With effect from March 23, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 IMO – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 JIGAWA- Ward: With effect from March 16, 2024 KADUNA. – Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 NIGER. – Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 ONDO – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 PLATEAU – LGA: With effect from March 23, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 RIVERS- State: With effect from March 21, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 18, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 SOKOTO- Ward: With effect from March 16, 2024 TARABA- Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 Federal Capital Territory (FCT)- LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 The NWC stated that in situations where vacancies occurred in the respective Excos due to death, defection and/or resignation, no replacement should be effected for such vacancies in the Caretakers Committees.The NWC charged all leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the Party to continue to work together to ensure the stability, growth and success of the Party in their respective States, Local Government Areas and Wards.
- Spirituality
- March 30, 2024
- 90 views
CATHOLIC BISHOP WARNS PRIESTS AGAINST FALSE TEACHING
CATHOLIC BISHOP WARNS PRIESTS AGAINST FALSE TEACHING The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, has advised priests against misleading their members with false teachings. Onaga gave the advice in a homily during a Chrism Mass held at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu on Thursday. Chrism Mass is celebrated on Holy Thursday, during which priests renew their vocation and are consecrated with the oil of Chrism. According to the bishop, priests should be careful of what comes out of their mouth as people believe in them and call them Father. He emphasized that their call was a divine trust to herald the word of God given to them and urged them to do it with conscientiousness. “Our words matter a lot not just when we are in the church but wherever we find ourselves. Our flock calls us Father because they believe that we have been transformed. We should teach people true words. “If your words are lies, you are teaching your parishioners to lies and you are teaching them to tell lies and give false witnesses,” Onaga said. The cleric explained that Reverend Fathers were the custodians of the word of God adding that they should refrain from false preachings and prophecies. “We should not compare ourselves with other pastors because to him whom much is given, much is expected. We have a very sacred juice of priesthood. “The word of God is sacred and should not be defiled and the priest is the dispenser of the word of God in his place with the people of God,” he said. He charged the priests to possess a Christlike heart with love, saying priesthood is love. “It is love in us that will define what we teach our members; you don’t abuse them but teach them word of God with love and that which come from Christ we represent, should dominate everything we do”. Onaga also admonished the Catholic priests to do away with unforgiving anger, greed, selfishness and pride but engage in the work of God with love and humility.Highlight of the Holy Mass was the renewal of the vow and commitment made by no fewer than 500 priests during their ordination, blessing of the oil of the sick, oil of the Catechumen and consecration of the oil of Chrism.
ESWAMA INSISTS ON TODAY’S SANITATION EXERCISE
ESWAMA INSISTS ON TODAY’S SANITATION EXERCISE The Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA), states that the sanitation exercise for the month of March will hold today, Saturday, 30 March, 2024, between the hours of 7am-10am. The notification was contained in a statement signed by the SPA to the Governor on Wastes, Andreas Gebauer, emphasizing that, “Movement of people and vehicles during the exercise, is prohibited as offenders will be prosecuted at the environmental mobile court of law.” Moreso, “Those that engage in sporting activities around the Okpara Square and any other location within the metropolis, are advised to postpone their sporting activities and join the clean up exercise, else they will be arrested and prosecuted as well. The ESWAMA Authority is determined to ensure maximum hygiene across the State, and therefore appeals to the general public to bag their wastes properly before disposal and equally pay their ESWAMA bills at any Commercial bank closer to them.“Please do not pay cash to anybody or any agent,” ESWAMA admonished.
- Spirituality
- March 27, 2024
- 102 views
ABAKALIKI CATHOLIC DIOCESE GETS SEVEN NEW MONSIGNORS
ABAKALIKI CATHOLIC DIOCESE GETS SEVEN NEW MONSIGNORS Seven catholic priests in the Abakaliki Diocese, Ebonyi State, were recently elevated to the status of monsignor by the Pontif, His Holiness, Pope Francis. The bishop, Most Rev. Peter Nworie Chukwu officially presented them at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, after installation on March 16. Chukwu said that the profiles of the priests were investigated at the Vatican before seven out of the 11 names he submitted were approved to be honoured as monsignor. He advised those who were not captured to take it in good fate as the same chance might likely come their ways in future: “We are lucky for having scored seven because the number signifies completeness just as God had created the world in six days and rested on the 7th day and when it was the time to choose deacons for the church after the coming of the holy spirit, seven men of good repute were ordained. “Today, we have seven quintessential pastors who have been honoured by the Holy Father, Pope Francis as monsignors and with a closer look at each of them, one will find out that they had become priests before I entered Senior Seminary, that is one common thing among them and we are grateful to God.” He also said that the investiture of the monsignors does not undermine their priestly functions and appealed that they should continue the work with humility. It was learnt that the priests elevated by Pope courtesy of the bishop’s recommendation have distinguished themselves in their priestly functions, evangelisation and service to humanity Those installed as monsignors include Rt. Rev. Felix Uchenna Onwukike, Associate Prof. Christopher Makwe Okoro, Rt. Rev. Godwin Oguike Oluoha, Justus Odoemene, Rt. Rev. Gabriel Obazi Owoh, Rt. Rev. Matthew Ekuma Isukpa and Rt. Rev. Prof. Clement Osunwokeh. One of them. Monsignor Oluoha said that the elevation was prompted by his contribution to the growth of the church in the state and thanked the Pope for reciprocating the effort with the honour. He advised young priests to obey their vision, be brotherly with their colleagues, be the best of what they are, keep the rules of the community and the church and most importantly, obey the rules of God. His counterpart, Makwe, said that he had been working in accordance with the dictate of his conscience since April 18, 1971, stressing that the honour was a result of his activities recorded by an agent of God.He also thanked Bishop Chukwu for the recommendation and Pope Francis, for the appointment.
HUNGER: ANGER AS MANY NIGERIANS DIE IN SEARCH OF PALLIATIVES
HUNGER: ANGER AS MANY NIGERIANS DIE IN SEARCH OF PALLIATIVES Several Nigerians lost their lives in the past few days while struggling to benefit from palliatives being distributed by the government amid the rising hunger in the land. The latest is the unfortunate incident at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, where two students were reported dead during the distribution of palliatives while 23 have been hospitalised. Governor Abdullahi Sule had ordered the distribution of two 7.5 kg bags of rice and N5,000 to each student of the state university in Keffi, the state capital. However, two students- Grace Danladi and Rose Michael died in the unfortunate incident, while others were injured during a stampede ahead of the distribution of the palliatives to students of the school. An official statement said the palliatives were billed for distribution at the convocation arena of the school before some students overpowered the security on the ground, causing a stampede that resulted in the death and injuries of the students while they carted away the food items. In his reaction, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said the death of the two students was not as a result of government’s negligence. The governor made the statement when he appeared as a guest on Channel’s Television. “It’s not something that happened on the part of negligence by the government. “It’s very unfortunate that it happened but it had nothing to do with any planning, it has nothing to do with any negligence. We have been to eight places. “It was the last place, which would have been the ninth institution that we went to. So, all these other places that we went, everything went so smoothly,” he said. According to him, the stampede was not because of planning but because some students thought that their names were being replaced by the Students’ Union Government of the institution, hence the anxiety. “We are very sad that two students died. We are talking with the families. So, for somebody to politicise it? It’s unfortunate that we are in a country where everybody looks at a tragedy and politicize it,” he added Underhand dealings and inadequacy of the materials to meet the needs of Nigerians are some of the reasons being adduced for the deaths of citizens. Seven persons died at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Old Zonal Headquarters in Yaba area of Lagos State while residents were making efforts to buy seized rice from the Service, which was sold at N10,000 per 25kg to alleviate people’s sufferings in the face of the economic crunch in the country. The exercise witnessed chaos and confusion when what was supposed to be a gesture of assistance from the government, the distribution of 25kg bags of rice, turned into an unpleasant scene, leaving many citizens frustrated and struggling. The stampede was said to have occurred due to poor crowd management by the Customs, as hundreds of people tried to force themselves into the venue to buy the rice. The Comptroller General of the NCS, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, had assured the process for the sale of the food items had been perfected such that a form with all the details of the applicant including the National Identification Number, NIN, would be submitted and a bar code generated for the collection of the commodity. Another recent incident in Bauchi State also saw at least four women confirmed dead in a stampede that occurred during the distribution of zakat (almsgiving exercise) to residents in the state. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Shafa Holdings Company headquarters along Jos road in Bauchi. Ahmed Wakil, police spokesperson in Bauchi, confirmed the development, saying that a 17-year-old girl, Naima Abdullahi, sustained injuries during the stampede. Abdullahi was reported to be…