Papapa News 247 Update

BREAKING: Onnoghen Ordered To Enter Defense As CCT No-case Submission The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Friday dismissed the no-case submission filed by the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, and asked him to open his defence in respect of the six of false and non-declaration of assets preferred against him. The three-man bench of the CCT led by Danladi Umar, which earlier took arguments of parties on Friday, held that Onnoghen had case to answer and should enter his defence. Contrary to the contention by Onnoghen’s legal team that the three witnesses called by the prosecution failed to give credible evidence to prove the case, the CCT held that the admission to the alleged offences by the embattled top judicial officer showed that there was a prima facie case against him. Umar said the defence was only trying to frustrate the punishment of the defendant for the offences. The Chief Adegboyega Awomolo-led defence team promptly applied for the copy of the ruli

BREAKING: Kidnapped DSP Found Dead In Edo Forest  The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Godwin Oshiogbuwe, who was abducted at Ubiaja, Esan South East local government has been found dead. His body was found Wednesday in a forest on Ubiaja-Ewohimi-Agbor road by a police tactical team in a pursuit of the kidnappers. Police sources said he was killed because the kidnappers found him to be a policeman through his police identification card and pictures in his mobile phone. Late DSP Oshiogbuwe hailed from Auchi in Edo state and served in Abuja before his death. It was learnt that the recovered body has since been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy. Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said it was a search party that discovered the body of the slain policeman at Emu-Oken bush.  By Deen REPORT

BREAKING: Buhari Declines Assent To Digital Rights Bill, Four Others  President Muhammadu Buhari has conveyed to the National Assembly his decision to decline assent to five bills. Stating several reasons, Mr Buhari said he would not assent to the Nigerian Film Commission bill, Immigration Amendment bill, Climate Change bill, Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners bill and the Digital Rights and Freedom bill. His letters of decline was read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday. Mr Buhari said he decided not to sign the Digital Rights and Freedom bill because it “seeks to cover too many technical subjects and fails to address any of them extensively.” “These areas include surveillance and digital protection, lawful interception of communication, digital protection and retention etc. Which are currently the subject of various bills pending at national assembly. We therefore suggest that the scope of the bill should be limited to the protection of human right

PDP Ready To Align With APC Over Choice Of Lawan As Senate President  Follow The chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, has said that elected senators of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, will cooperate with Senator Ahmad Lawan to succeed as Senate President in the 9th National Assembly. He also assured Nigerians that the decision of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to pick Lawan as its candidate for the office of the Senate President will not lead to crisis. Abdullahi, who is also the spokesperson for the group canvassing support for Ahmad Lawan, also said the choice of the Senate Leader was not unilaterally done by an individual but a collective decision of the party. He said leaders of the APC, after due consultations, asked the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to announce Lawan as the party’s choice. This, according to him, was contrary to claims by Senator Ali Ndume that Oshiomhole’s announcement did not h

OSUN TRIBUNAL VERDICT: I'll Remain In Office Until Judgement On My Appeal, Says Oyetola 2019 Elections Follow Ousted Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola has revealed that he will remain in office pending the outcome of his appeal challenging last Friday’s judgment of the election petition tribunal. Governor Oyetola who made the comments while inspecting some on-going road and drainage projects in the state capital, Osogbo, also noted that his faith in the judiciary remains unshaken despite the nullification of his election. He said; “I am confident that our mandate will be reaffirmed at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. As you all know, it was a split judgment, telling us that it was not a unanimous decision. This is part of our strength at the Appellate Court. “I must correct the impression that I have been removed from office. I remain the governor of Osun till all the electoral litigations are finalised. “So, my visit to this site is in fu

BREAKING NEWS: Another Building Collapses On Lagos Island — The Third In Two Weeks   A three-storey residential building has collapsed on Kakawa Street, Lagos Island on Monday. This is the third time a building has collapsed on Lagos Island in a space of two weeks. An unidentified number of people have been trapped, according to Punch. On March 13, a building had collapsed at Ita Faji, Lagos Island, killing 20 persons, including school children, while more than 40 people sustained injuries. Five days later, another building collapsed on 57, Egerton Square, Oke Arin, Lagos — but this was because the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had engaged the services of quacks to bring down houses marked for demolition in the wake of the Ita Faji building collapse.   By Deen REPORT

What controversy rocked the Yoruba film industry the most in 2018? Was it Adeniyi Johnson begging his ex-wife Toyin Abraham to sign their divorce papers? Or was it Mercy Aigbe's controversial red dress? We're not sure. But what we do know is that 2018 was drama filled as usual with celebrity controversies keeping fans entertained all year long. Here, we present just a few of them. 1. Mercy Aigbe's controversial red dress Mercy had worn a red dress made by popular Lagos-based fashion designer, Maryam Elisha of Rikaoto by Me, for her 40th birthday photo shoot. But a bride would later come out to say it was hers. The controversy began on January 4 and lasted nearly two weeks. The bride said the designer had lied to her that a logistics challenge had stalled its transportation to her in Benin. The bride said she was supposed to wear the dress on her wedding day. There was n apology by the designer and a statement by Mercy Aigbe's stylist, StyledBySeun, abs

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says those opposed to the decision of Atiku Abubakar to seek legal redress over the outcome of the presidential election have evil minds. Atiku, who contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost to President Muhammadu Buhari in the March 23 election. Speaking on the judgement of the Osun governorship tribunal, Obasanjo said Atiku did the right thing by challenging Buhari’s victory. He said without a reasonable cause, Buhari went to the court to challenge his loss in three elections, wondering why some people were trying to “stop Atiku from going to court”. On Friday, the tribunal declared Ademola Adeleke of the PDP as winner of the September 2018 election in the state. In a statement on Saturday, Obasanjo said the nullification of the election, which he described as an illegality, has given renewed confidence in the judiciary. “While I was in Dubai to attend the Global Education and Skills Forum meeting, I received the news of the j

IMPRESSIVE!! 45-yr-old Father Of 7 Emerges NOUN's Best Graduating Student Bala Magaji, NOUN’s best graduating student Many adult Nigerians without formal education would say age and family responsibilities discourage them from starting studying and any form of schooling. But Bala Magaji, 45, a father of seven who on Saturday graduated in Islamic Studies, has challenged that claim. Married to two wives, Mr Magaji on Saturday emerged the best graduating student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for the 2018/19 academic year. Mr Magaji, who was showered with encomiums at the 8th convocation ceremony of the university in Abuja on Saturday, said a university degree is not cheap or easy but can open doors to great benefits.  I feel very happy and excited today and I will recommend the school because it is one of the best in the country and it has rich materials,” Mr Magaji told PREMIUM TIMES. Asked how he combined his academics and marriage, he said ”I had to tell

Supplementary Governorship Elections: How Things Stand In Five States 2019 Elections Follow Simon Lalong Of the five states where supplementary governorship elections were held, only one has been decided as at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.   Governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was re-elected Plateau State governor. He scored 595,582 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 546,813 votes.  In Kano, where the elections were marred by violence and presence of armed thugs around polling units, the collation was postponed till 8 a.m. on Sunday. Before then, the PDP had condemned the supplementary election in Kano as a sham while the results coming in confirms their fears as the APC was leading in virtually all the affected areas including known strongholds of the PDP.   In Bauchi, while the results are ready and have been collated at the various polling units, the INEC returning officer chose to leave the s

March 24, 2019  Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday congratulated Sen. Ademola Adeleke over his victory at the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday in Abuja. A statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday quoted the former president as commending Adeleke for his “statesmanship in going to court to seek justice. He described the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate decision to head to court as the right thing to do in a democracy. “This is the right and proper thing to do in any decent society. “Going to court must be encouraged and not discouraged as some people are now attempting to do. “While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections because one of the parties has gone to court. “May I point out that those who call themselves our development partners and friends and preach sacrificing justice on the altar of so-called stability are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria. “We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability an

New Minimum Wage: Buhari Begs Private Sector Not To Sack Workers   Follow PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded with the organised private sector not to retrench their workers in a bid to pay the new N30,000 national minimum wage. The President has also assured Nigerian workers that he was committed to ensure the payment of new national minimum wage to better the lives of the citizenry. President Buhari who addressed Lagos Business Community on the sideline of the ongoing All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign said he would continue to stand firm with the workers on the implementation of new minimum wage. While showering praises on the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on his efforts towards ensuring that the workers have new wage, the President described him as very competent and efficient.   By Agnes REPORT

The Senate on Tuesday approved N30,000 as national minimum wage with its passage of the National Minimum Wage Act (Repeal & Enactment) Bill 2019. This is sequel to the presentation of the report of the ad-hoc committee on the national minimum wage by its acting chairman, Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North). The Senate Committee of the Whole had considered and approved all the 18-clause report of the Alimikhena-led committee after a motion moved to this effect by Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan. The House of Representatives had in January approved N30,000 as new minimum wage after holding a public hearing on the national minimum wage bill presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.  By Yemi REPORT

S upplementary Poll: Suspected Hoodlums Attack Journalists, Voters In K ano   Some journalists covering the supplementary governorship election in Kano State on Saturday escaped lynching by suspected thugs at Suntulma Primary School in Gama ward of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state. NAN reports that the journalists who were in the area to monitor the poll, were chased out of the school by the hoodlums. Trouble began when some of the newsmen tried to interview some voters who were denied access into the classrooms where some of the polling units were stationed. While trying to flee the troubled area, some of the journalists fell and one of them (Name withheld), had to take refuge in a nearby Mosque. NAN also reports that some of the reporters had their clothes torn by the thugs. Speaking to newsmen, some voters alleged that they were not allowed to exercise their franchise as they were chased out of the area. One of them, Comrade Aminu Tijjani, said he we

TRAGEDY: 15 Die, Four Seriously Injured In Ekiti Truck Accident No fewer than 15 persons died when a truck-load of customised bags of rice crushed two vehicles on Saturday night in a market in Iworoko, Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State. It was learnt the bags of rice bore the picture and name of a senator in a neighbouring state. The truck also rammed into some shops in the market, turning the community into mourning with social and economic activities paralysed. An eyewitness told The Nation the truck suddenly lost control due to brake failure at about 8:45 pm on Saturday. He added that the truck crushed three shops and a commercial small bus known locally as “Akoto” which had some passengers. One of the shops, a barbing saloon, had residents and students charging their cell phones inside it. It was gathered among the 15 victims were students of the Ekiti State University, a corps member, residents, traders in the market as well as a mother a

ONDO STATE DEVELOPMENT UNIONS SEEK TINUBU, APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN'S INTERVENTION OVER PRINCIPAL  MEMBERS IN 9th ASSEMBLY.   Ondo State Development Unions in Nigeria and diaspora have examined the issue of political marginalization of elected lawmakers from Ondo State in the selection/election of Principal officers of National Assembly, Abuja, since the advent of democracy in 1999. It saddens the entire Ondo State to hear that none of the Senators and members of the House of Representatives they have been electing since 1999 has occupied the position of Principal member of National Assembly and reverse is the case of other South West states of Nigeria. They claimed that this is nothing but political marginalization and it has undermined and alienated Ondo State. Given the fact that all the South West states except Ondo State have produced one or more Principal members at one time or the other. The unions who addressed press in Akure urged the National Leader of APC, Asiwaj

You run an inclusive government, Ikare Monarchs tell Akeredolu   The two traditional rulers in Ikare Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State , the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh and the Owa Ale of Ikare, Oba Adedoyin Adegbite have commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, for the construction of various roads in the town. The Monarchs particularly thanked the Governor for the construction of the Oke Alabojuto road and the continuous developmental projects in the town. The Owa Ale recounted that prior to the rehabilitation of the Owo /Ikare road by the Akeredolu's administration, most people would travel to Ado from Ikare before going to Owo due to the bad state of the road. The traditional rulers commended Akeredolu for running an inclusive government. They said :" We thank you. Our community leaders have thanked you about the road. We know how Oke Alabojuto road was before your intervention. In the last two years, you have been working in

MY TAKE ON OYETOLA DECISION TO APPROACH THE APPEAL COURT-   Adeyemo speaks out.   I have this to say, we need to get things right, does anybody know the procedure of Appeal Court? With my own little knowledge on the field legal, We believe Appeal is to cross the proceeding of the lower court, and fix out the wrong process done by the Tribunal. Now, Oyetola and APC should remember that the INEC been the 1st defendant in the petition failed to defend the petition against them and they failed to file a no case submission as well, and while the 2nd and 3rd defendant (APC and Oyetola) also gave evidence contradiction in their defence and their evidence is not that tally with the evidence been presented by the petitioner. During the proceeding of the tribunal, i make it known to my people that the outcome of the tribunal will be of two things, and in which the tribunal even make use of the two. I said it that, is either the tribunal illegalize the rerun and make use of the r