Ebonyi State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chika Nwoba, has collapsed in court while being arraigned for alleged 15-count fake news related charges.
Nwoba who had been in Police detention since Sunday was taken before a Magistrate court sitting in Abakaliki, Wednesday for formal arraignment when he slumped at about 3pm.
Nwoba was, however, brought back to the court after the police team rushed him to an undisclosed hospital where he was resuscitated.
The Prosecutor, Mathas Eze, expressed shock at the development, stressing that Nwoba, was healthy while in Police custody before being taken to Court for arraignment.
The defence Counsel, Luke Nkwoagu, expressed wondered why the police insisted on arranging their client either dead or alive.
Presiding Magistrate, Blessing Chukwu, who observed that Nwoba cannot be arranged due to I’ll health, ordered that he be taken to the hospital for medical care and adjourned the matter to January 14, 2022 for further hearing.
The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, has thrown his weight behind the new leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ).
Chief Igbinedion added that he would continually support the Union with a view to actualizing its objectives.
The Benin High Chief made the position known in Benin City when Chairman of the Union, Festus Alenkhe, led members of the newly elected executives of the union on a courtesy call in his residence.
Chief Igbinedion prayed God to grant the executive members a successful tenure.
Earlier in his speech, Chairman, Edo State Council of the NUJ, Festus Alenkhe, disclosed that he decided to lead the executive members of the union on the courtesy call to notify the Esama of the change of leadership in the union.
Alenkhe who urged the Esama not to turn his back on the Union, emphasized that Chief Igbinedion remain a Grand Patron of the Union.
A Journalist with the Nasarawa state-owned media, Broadcasting Service, Salisu Maki, has been allegedly kidnapped in his house by gunmen.
Reports indicate that Maki just returned from work at about 9:00 am, Tuesday, when the kidnappers numbering about ten invaded his house at Akurba Road, Lafia Local Government Area, fired several gunshots into the air and whisked him away.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Raham Nansel, who confirmed the incident disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi, has deployed operatives of the Command to search and rescue the victim unhurt.
The former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Christopher Alao-Akala, has died at the age of 71.
Spokesperson of, APC, Olatunde Abdulazeez, confirmed the death of the Ogbomoso-born Politician death to Newsmen, Wednesday morning.
A source close to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he died in his Ogbomoso residence after battling terminal ailment for a while.
The source added that the former Governor was full of life Tuesday night and played with his children before going to bed that night.
Born 3rd June 1950 at Ogbomoso in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Otunba Alao-Akala had his elementary education at Osupa Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso before proceeding to Kamina Barracks Middle School, 5th Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, Ghana.
He was Deputy Governor to former Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, between 2003 and 2006 and later bacame acting Governor of Oyo State for eleven months after Ladoja was impeached by the State House of Assembly.
Alao-Akala was eventually elected Governor of Oyo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party between 2007 and 2011.
He was also the Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party in Oyo state for the 2019 general election.
Alao-Akala was until his death a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya
The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers of the Nigerian Army.
Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has charged the newly appointed senior officers to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He also charged them to redouble their commitment to duty in their new appointments, even as he urged them to ensure value addition in their respective commands and appointments.
The posings and appointments contained in a released on Monday, January 10, 2022, is aimed at reinvigorating the Nigerian Army.
Those affected includes; General Officers Commanding and other senior officers.
Others redeployed are; Major General G.A. Umelo from Defence Simulation Centre to Defence Headquarters ( Defence Research and Development Bureau) and appointed Director-General, Major General V. Ebhaleme is to remain in Defence Space Administration and appointed Director Support Services, Major General G.B. Audu from Defence Administration to Nigerian Army Resource Centre and appointed Senior Research Fellow.
Major General S.E. Udounwa from Army War College Nigeria to the newly established Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes and appointed Chief of Special Services/ Programmes (Army).
Major General M.T. Durowaiye was moved from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Army Headquarters Department of Administration (Army) and appointed Director Veteran Affairs Directorate, Major General A.E. Attu from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Defence Training and Operations and appointed Director Peace Keeping Operations.
Also, Major General U.T. Musa was posted from Department of Administration (Army) to Headquarters 81 Division and appointed General Officer Commanding, while Major General C.U. Onwunle from Directorate of Automated Data Processing proceeded to Defence Headquarters ( Department of Communications) and appointed Director of Communications.
Meanwhile, Major General O.O. Oluyede moved from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Headquarters 6 Division and appointed General Officer Commanding and Major General L.T. Omoniyi from Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Army Headquarters Department of Operations and appointed Director Campaign Planning.
Major General O.J. Akpor of the Nigerian Defence Academy was elevated to Defence Headquarters ( Directorate of Defence Information) and appointed Director Defence Information, Major General A.A. Eyitayo from 7 Division to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Campaign Planning, Major General L.A. Fejokwu from 81 Division to Defence Headquarters Department of Standard and Evaluation and appointed Director Standard and Evaluation, while Major General J.A.L. Jimoh is redeployed from Nigerian Army School of Artillery to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command and appointed Chief of Training.
Additionally, Major General H.T. Wesley moves from Office of the Chief of Army Staff to Headquarters Defence Intelligence Agency and appointed Director Administration, Major General J.O. Ochai from Army Headquarters Department of Operations to Nigerian Army Armour School and appointed Commandant, Major General S.G. Mohammed from 6 Division to Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans amongst others.
Other senior officers affected in the reorganization include; Brigadier General A.S. Maikano from Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme to 82 Division and appointed Commander Division Finance and Accounts, Brigadier General L.A. Lebo from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and appointed Acting Deputy Chief of Training (Linkages/Integration), Brigadier General MO Ihanuwaze from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Army Budget and appointed Director of Budget and Accounts, Brigadier General O. Adegbe from Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs and appointed Director Psychological Operations.
A Journalist with the Nasarawa state-owned media, Broadcasting Service, Salisu Maki, has been allegedly kidnapped in his house by gunmen.
Reports indicate that Maki just returned from work at about 9:00 am, Tuesday, when the kidnappers numbering about ten invaded his house at Akurba Road, Lafia Local Government Area, fired several gunshots into the air and whisked him away.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Raham Nansel, who confirmed the incident disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi, has deployed operatives of the Command to search and rescue the victim unhurt.
The Canadian province of Quebec will charge a health tax to residents who are not vaccinated against Covid-19, the BBC reports.
Quebec, which has seen the highest number of Covid-related deaths in Canada, is currently struggling with a surge in cases.
On Tuesday, the premier announced that it would be the first in the nation to financially penalise the unvaccinated.
Only about 15% of Quebec residents are not vaccinated, but they make up about half of all hospital cases.
According to federal data, just over 84% of Quebec residents had received at least one vaccine dose by 1 January.
Premier Francois Legault said during a news conference that people who have not received their first dose of vaccine will have to pay a “contribution”.
The fee has not yet been decided, but will be “significant”, he said.
“I think right now it’s a question of fairness for the 90% of the population who made some sacrifices,” Mr Legault said.
“I think we owe them this kind of measure.”
Last week, the province announced that it would require proof of vaccination to shop in government cannabis and liquor stores.
A curfew is also in place, the second one of the pandemic, running from 22:00 to 05:00 each day.
On Tuesday, Quebec’s death toll from Covid reached 12,028.
It comes after 62 deaths were recorded in the previous 24-hour period.
The daily figure represents a similar rate to January 2021, before widespread vaccinations had begun in the province.
The premier’s press conference was attended by his interim public health director, who took over after the long-serving previous director resigned over criticism of his handling of the latest Omicron-driven surge.
Hospitals in Montreal, the province’s largest city, are nearing 100% capacity and have already started limiting non-Covid related care.
Over 200 members of the city’s unhoused population have also tested positive, indicating an outbreak.
It comes amid a severe cold snap, which is overwhelming shelters.
Quebec reported 8,710 new cases on Tuesday. The figure represents a 20% positivity rate.
There are currently 2,742 Covid patients in Quebec hospitals, including 244 in intensive care.
While rare, Quebec is not the only region in the world seeking to impose a financial penalty on those unwilling to get jabbed.
Starting later this month, Greeks over age 60 are being required to pay a €100 (£85; C$142; $113) fine for each month that they remain unvaccinated.
Singapore has required Covid patients to pay for their own medical bills if they are not vaccinated.
A Church building located near Noble Academy, opposite Rain Oil on Okpanam Road in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, has reportedly collapsed.
It was gathered that Church, Salvation Ministries, Asaba branch, collapsed at about 5:45 Tuesday, during the first evening service, trapping the worshippers, mostly children, in the rubbles.
Sources saypart of the building was under construction and the children’s section of the Church was basically affected by the collapse.
Sources disclosed thatabout ten deaths were recorded while eight persons were rescued unhurt and four others rushed to the Asaba Specialist Hospital for medical attentionas at the time of this report.
Officers of the Delta State Emergency Management Agency, men of the Delta State Police Command as well as fire service officials were seen evacuating some victims from the rubbles as the rescue operation continued into the night.
It was also gathered that the one-storey church building which has its headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is owned by a popular Nigerian pastor, Bishop David Ibiyeomie.
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan, GCFR, former Head of the Interim National Government after Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida,has died at the age of 85 on Tuesday morning.
Chief Shonekan headed the interim head of the Nigerian government between August 26 and November 17, 1993, and was ousted through a coup led by late General Sani Abacha.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, has remanded one 28-year-old technician, Pope Ogala, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl.
The defendant who is a brother-in-law to the victim was alleged to have defiled the little girl in 2015 and later repeated same in Nov. 20, 2021, in his residence at Ishawo Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.
The offence, according to the Prosecution led by ASP, Victor Eruada, violates Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Presiding Magistrate, M.O. Tanimola, consequently made the remand order and directed that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the matter to 12th February 2022 for mention.
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