OBI-AFRICA

Nnamd Kanu is now in London after travelling to Malaysia from Nigeria — Orji Uzor Kalu Former governor of Anambra State and Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC, Orji Uzor Kalu has told the Punch Newspaper in an interview that the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu who has been declared missing by his lawyer and associate is not missing. Kalu said close family members of Nnamdi Kanu told him he had left the country and is now in London, United Kingdom. “Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he travelled to the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak. He was not arrested by anybody. “He left the country on his own. One of his relations has spoken to me and explained everything because I wanted to see him and talk to him wherever he was and see how I could meet some Federal Government officials on his issue. I also wanted to see ways of talking to the President about him, and find com...

Quit notice: Igbo ‘shut down’ Plateau Investigations by The Guardian showed that the Igbo residents were just being careful so that the October 1 quit notice does not take them by surprise. Plateau State was yesterday ‘shut down’, as virtually all shops and business outfits owned by Igbo businessmen and women were closed for business. Investigations by The Guardian showed that the Igbo residents were just being careful so that the October 1 quit notice does not take them by surprise. Although the Arewa Northern Youths who issued the quit notice had since recanted, Igbo respondents confided in The Guardian that they held a meeting during which it was resolved that they should all stay at home, in case the Arewa Youths renege on their promise to unleash mayhem. However, because Governor Simon Bako Lalong lost his younger brother, Mr. Wumen Bako, no statement of assurances came from government, but natives, including Hausa and other non-Igbo residents were seen going about the...

The Last Thing Nnamdi Kanu Told Me” – Ejiofor, IPOB Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disclosed his last conversation with Nnamdi Kanu. Ejiofor also lamented that he has not been able to reach Kanu since the military stormed his Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State home. The lawyer, in a chat wit Sun, recalled that he got a call from Kanu on 14th September that army personnel were shooting sporadically around his house. “I quickly issued a statement which was widely published on the social media alerting the world of what was going on; that my client was under siege as the military was shooting for over 40 minutes trying to gain access into the house. “He called me again that they were at the gate shooting to gain access, I asked him to remain inside, while I continued to let the world know. That was our last communication and I never heard from him again after the attack. And the rest is now story.” On the fate of the sur...

Police murdered my innocent husband, labelled him cultist – Widow File Photo The widow of a taxi driver that was allegedly shot dead by Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Rivers State, Mrs. Gift Ademisoye, has cried out that security operatives killed her husband while he was returning from where he went to eat amala and ewedu soup. SARS operatives, an outfit of the State Police Command, had on Monday allegedly shot and killed 42-year-old man, Jibade Ademisoye, close to his house in Rumuakunde community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state and labelled him a cultist. The security operatives had claimed that cultists in Rumuakunde had opened fire on the security operatives, who were in the area for operation, adding that the victim was gunned down when the SARS men repelled the attack. But the widow of the victim on Wednesday said that her husband was never a cultist and was not with any group of persons before SARS operatives murdered him, adding that his husb...

IPOB leader not in military custody – DHQ File Photo The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied having the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, in its custody. The DHQ said on Friday that it has no knowledge of the whereabouts of the IPOB leader. Defence spokesman, John Enenche, who addressed journalists in Abuja stated that DHQ cannot be held responsible for the missing IPOB leader. - He also denied that military invaded the country home of Kanu’s in Abia State. He said: “I watched the operations live. I also got first hand information from our men on ground. For the records, Nnamdi Kanu was never taken away by the military.” IPOB leader went underground few weeks ago after the soldiers executing the second phase of military operation code named “python dance or egwu eke” invaded his home in Umuahia, Abia State. He is due to appear in court this October for the continuation of his trail.

Obiano inherited N185bn debt from Obi – Umeh Pool Photo Ahead of the November 18, Anambra governorship election, former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Director-General Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Umeh, said in Awka yesterday that Governor Willie Obiano inherited a whooping N185 billion from his predecessor, Peter Obi. Umeh alleged that Obi collected N50 billion as security vote for the eight years of his reign. He pointed out that all the claims by the Obi’s camp that he left N75 billion for Obiano were mere political talks, stressing that, in actual fact, whatever Obi left was in bonds, some of which would mature in about 2030 and beyond. On allegations that Obi demanded from Obiano the sum of N7 billion being monies he spent in making Obiano governor, Umeh said he was not aware of any such money or an agreement to that effect. He absolved Obi of the allegation against Obiano over the money, saying that a...

Nigeria has failed under Buhari – Peter Obi File Photo A former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has said that Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed as a country. Mr. Obi stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Saturday during the 2017 Independence anniversary lecture at the Akanu-Ibiam International Conference Centre where he was a guest lecturer. The former governor spoke on the topic “Change and changing Nigeria through harnessing of investment potentials of Ebonyi state: yesterday, today and tomorrow. He expressed regret that the country was still operating in the past with no qualified leadership to revitalise the economy. The former governor blamed the recent rise in agitation of youth across the country, especially the Indigenous People of Biafra, as a result of the poor leadership of the present administration of the federal government. “For me the country has failed, If any body tells you that Nigeria is do...

South East Governors are now doing damage control. They said they banned IPOB but did not declare them terrorists You banned your people and exposed them to savagery. The same Umahi who refused our plea to say no to grazing was amongst those who quickly conveyed and told the world their unarmed children are no good, threw them to the enemy. Only Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Senator Theodore Orji listened to that plea. Today,  Governor Ikpeazu is telling us they banned IPOB but never declared them terrorists. We have heard. Spare us the details sir. You are still our leaders willy nilly so we need you to do one thing. Can you all get together and demand prosecution of those involved in the murder of those boys who were drowned in the mud river ? Governor Umahi should be the one to read out the demand exactly the same way he did during the proscription he had no power to do. For now, we know only Evangelist Ukoh, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Femi Fa...

IPOB clarifies relationship with Turkey’s Erkahraman The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has cleared some grey issues bordering on its relationship with a Turkish citizen, Mr. Abdulkadir Erkahraman. It said he is a representative of IPOB on international relations in the Middle East and Asia. The group described Erkahraman as the current President of International Nations Commercial Association based in Turkey and an adviser to Kanu. Erkahraman has come under attacks lately from the Federal Government and All Progressives Congress (APC) members, warning him to renounce his support for IPOB. IPOB also alleged that the government had invited him to visit Nigeria and make a television broadcast publicly renouncing his support for Biafra, adding that this should serve to notify the Turkish government and the world accordingly that Erkahramans’ life and that of his family have come under threat. In a statement yesterday, the IPOB Media ...

I’ll defeat Buhari in a free and fair election – Fayose File Photo - Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has declared his interest to contest the 2019 presidential election. Speaking at a ceremony where he made his interest known, Fayose said having defeated two incumbents in his state, he is sure of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari with the support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also said as Nigeria’s longest-serving governor — having worked under former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan and now Buhari, he has what it takes to emerge Nigeria’s next president. “My party leaders, standing before you is Peter (The Rock) Ayodele Fayose, the man already destined by God to take Nigeria out of the present political and economic stagnation,” he said. “I do not stand before Nigerians today to present myself as one with the answers to all our national questions. Rather, I present myself as one with the required knowledge, under...

Three killed, 150 homes razed in Boko Haram raid Boko Haram militants have killed three people and set fire to scores of homes in a raid in the Baga area of Borno. Information officer for the Guzamala local government area in northern Borno state, said the attack happened at about 3:00 pm on Wednesday. He says the insurgents had come in large numbers in trucks and on motorcycles and attacked Goram and two neighbouring villages, Lingis and Ajidari. They had looted foodstores and set them on fire. It was not immediately clear which faction of Boko Haram was responsible for the attack.

PDP suspends former chairman for four years Pool Photo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday suspended the former chairman of the party in Anambra State, Ken Emeakayi. The suspension which takes immediate effect will last for a period of four years. In Augusts, National Caretaker Committee of the PDP suspended Emeakayi for a month over alleged act of indiscipline. Dayo Adeyeye, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, made the announcement in Abuja. Adeyeye recalled that the national leadership had on July 27 dissolved the parallel PDP exco in Anambra. Adeyeye said that three days after the dissolution of all factional executive in the state, Emeakayi went ahead to summon a meeting of his faction, which was in clear violation of the decision of NCC. He said when the committee heard about the development, it issued a query to Emeakayi on his action, and that rather than respond to the issue, the chieftain disparaged the national leadership of the p...

Lagos babymama arrested for death of Caleb varsity student Morrison Akinbule The life of a 300-level student of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Morrison Akinbule, has been allegedly brought to a tragic end in a circumstance involving his lover, identified simply as Chidinma. Chidinma has been arrested and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for Akinbule’s death, which occurred on Sunday. PUNCH Metro  learnt that the duo started a romantic relationship three years ago and had a child together. They did not marry. It was gathered that Chidinma had visited Akinbule at his mother’s house in the Gbagada area of the state around 9pm on Saturday to pass the night. It was said they had a misunderstanding at night which resulted in a fight, during which Chidinma allegedly hit Akinbule’s head on the wall. Akinbule’s elder sister, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday, said Chidinma had...

Neighbours Rescue Little Girl from Being Used for Money Rituals in Benin A ritualist has been apprehended and a little girl saved after she was abducted to be killed for ritual purposes. A 25 year-old-man, Ekene Nwanne, was on Thursday sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by an Egor Magistrates’ Court sitting in Benin for attempting to use a minor for ritual. The Police Prosecutor, Mr O. Omoruyi, told the court that Nwanne, committed the crime on Sept. 19 at No. 62, Siluko Road, Benin. He said that the defendant was arraigned on a count charge of stealing a minor with intension of using the minor for ritual. Omoruyi said the offence was punishable under Section 371 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II Laws of the old Benue State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo State. The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to the charge. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Igho Bramah, sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine and with hard labour. Earlier, the p...

'Devilish' Gunmen Kidnap Catholic Priest in Edo State (Photo) Few weeks after a Reverend Father was abducted and murdered while returning to Nigeria for his father's funeral in Imo state, a yet another Catholic Priest has been kidnapped in Edo state. Some unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a Priest of the Catholic Diocese of  Auchi,  Revd. Fr. Lawrence Adorolo, in the Okpella area of Edo State. According to Daily Sun, the parish priest of St Benedict Catholic Church, Iddo 11, Okpella, Edo State, Fr. Law, as he is fondly called, was kidnapped at about 6:00p.m. on Wednesday. It was gathered that the cleric was abducted while on his way from Igarra where priests of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi marked one-month of late Revd Fr. Lawrence Balogu

NEWS Ghana's president asks police to drop case against man arrested for 'insulting' him GHANA Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has called on the police to drop an “incitement” case against man arrested for sharing an audio on social media accusing him of being a marijuana smoker. The popular opposition National Democratic Congress ( NDC ) party member Frank Kwaku Appiah was arrested on Tuesday in the Ashanti Region and transferred to the police headquarters in the capital Accra for intent to “cause fear and panic” with the publication on Facebook, his lawyer explained to local media. “Initially, the police were reminded to bring the issue of insulting the president. But as you are aware, post-2001 that law was repealed … for now there’s no such thing in our statute books,” his lawyer Godwin Tamakloe told local media portal GhanaWeb. “The President’s attention has been drawn to the arrest of one Mr. Frank Kwak...

NEWS British air hostess sacked for slamming Nigerian passengers in viral video NIGERIA A British Airways hostess has been sacked after a Snapchat video she recorded slamming Nigerian passengers went viral. Joanne Wickenden, who was wearing her uniform in the minute-long video, was complaining about excessive demands by Nigerian passengers while making references to male genitals. “All the Nigerians are gonna be there like ‘gimme Coca Cola, gimme beef, why you have no beef left? I want beef. And I’m just gonna be there like, ‘Sorry sir, we ran out of beef’. “All the Nigerians are gonna be there asking for f****** upgrades because they haven’t got enough leg room because their  BBC s [term for black male genitals] are in their way,” she said in the video which doesn’t indicate when and where it was shot. The video was shared by many Nigerians who demanded an action be taken against her. The British Airways confirmed that she had been sacked. “We expe...