Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Friday morning, arrived in Nigeria for their 72-hour tour.

The couple arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard a British Airways flight.

The flight which arrived around 5am, was delayed because of a sick pilot, according to the Daily Mail.

The Duchess of Sussex had flown into Heathrow yesterday to meet up with her husband at the airport’s VIP Windsor Suite.

This is the first time Harry and Meghan are visiting Nigeria together.

Other travellers were held back while they were escorted off into a waiting blacked out minibus.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that it was not on the front burner of his administration to employ new people into the state’s civil service.

The governor made the disclosure during the monthly interactive session with the media on Thursday in Umuahia.

According to him, the issue of employment would arise when the government finished dealing with what it met in the civil service.

He added that there was an embargo that he made, stressing that it was still in place.

He complained that the number of persons in the civil service was still very high even after verification.

Otti decried the huge wage bill of about four billion naira for both local government and state on a monthly basis.

The governor, however, assured that the government was working assiduously on improving and enhancing the pay for the civil servants.

He said that government was aware that there were quite a lot of people in the service who might not be contributing at optimal levels and would need to do something about it.

He said: “So, it may not be a priority at this time to open up the doors to bring in new people, except if we have a way of exiting a few people.

“But you know with the civil service rules, it is not going to be very easy to exit people.

“What we are trying to do with the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and resumption of the new Head of Service and new Permanent Secretaries is to ensure that our people are adequately trained.

“This is to enable them operate their skills and perform better.”

Inevitable hunger looms in Apa and Agatu LGAs of Benue State as marauding Fulani herdsmen continue their deadly attacks unabated.

DAILY POST reports that kidnappings and killings in the two local government areas have led to the abandonment of the communities in the two LGAs by the natives.

As the rainy season sets in, their planned return to commence farming activities is under threat.

The herdsmen remain defiant and have continued with their daily attacks and killings, the locals said.

Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency has been under relentless attacks by Fulani herdsmen for the past 12 years, with most attacks and killings concentrated in Agatu Local Government particularly.

Recently, it has escalated to the neighbouring Apa, Adoka axis of Otukpo and Gwer-West, Gwer-East and other local government areas of the state, resulting in wanton killings, destructions and displacement of thousands of inhabitants of the affected communities.

Communities affected by the carnage in Agatu Local Government Area include Olegomakwu, Onahe, Ocholonya, Okokolo, Ugboju, Olegobidu, Odugbeho, Odejo, Ogbaulu, Imwenyi, Adana, Ologba-Gishu, Iwarri, Ejima-gope, Ejima-gochi, Ikpele and Okpokpolo.

Among the affected communities in Apa LGA include Ikobi, Ijaha, Ochumekwu, all Edikwu communities, Ugbobi, Opaha, Odugbo, Ebini, Ikano, Oiji, Adija, Imana and Akpete.

Enquiries show that the attackers always bring up allegations of cattle rustling, as well their opposition to the anti-open grazing law in the state.

But the locals are of the contrary opinion that the herdsmen are in the state to conquer their lands and subjugate their people, adding that most of the attackers are foreign Fulani who don’t come with their cows but are well armed with sophisticated weapons.

In an interview with DAILY POST, the traditional ruler of Agatu land (the Ad’Agatu), HRH. Chief Godwin Ngbede Onah, decried the endless atrocities being meted on his people by the herdsmen, reiterating his appeal to the security agencies to go all out and end the unprovoked attacks and Killings.

“Hunger and general hardship are already taking a toll on my people and will worsen in the coming months and years as a vast part of Agatu land is left uncultivated as a result of the displacement of most farmers.

“Even those farmers whose communities are not affected cannot go to their farms for fear of being killed by the attackers. We are in a very terrible situation,” Chief Onah said.

Similarly, the Executive Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Hon Yakubu Ochohepo Pencil, who couldn’t hide his pain, condemned the continuous atrocities of the herdsmen, wondering why the people of Apa and Agatu must be killed by foreign and local invaders for reasons best known to the killers.

“It is so surprising that unprovoked attacks and killings have been going on in Agatu for the past 11 years.

“If the atrocities are not stopped now, an unprecedented hardship and hunger will take over the entire Agatu land as nobody is going to farm anymore.

“We have done our best, the Federal Government should carry out a massive deployment of the military to crisis-ravaged areas in order to bring a final end to the ongoing genocide”, Hon Pencil pleaded.

Another stakeholder and former Chairman of Agatu LGA, Hon Adoyi Suleiman in an interview said the insecurity in Agatu had defied every solution.

“Hunger and all other forms of hardship are already biting harder in Agatu; inhabitants of more than half of the communities in the local council have deserted their homes and farm lands, there are now more mouths to eat than hands to produce.

“I call on the Federal Government to intervene now, the crisis has lingered on for too long, let it end now in order to save our people and our land”, Adoyi said.

Also speaking, a youth leader in Agatu LGA, Comrade Abu Adaegahi Elijah went down memory lane.

He told DAILY POST that, “prior to the lingering insecurity, Agatu people were known for their hardworking and good morality but the crisis has wittingly and unwittingly brought about prostitution/promiscuity, joblessness, radicalization among youths, hunger and general economic hardship to Agatu land; our people no longer go to farms.

“There are two causes of insecurity in Agatu and Apa, namely- Fulani attacks and communal crisis among communities over ownership of natural resources, resulting in disunity among the people, especially the youths.

“For example, the endless Agbaduma/Abugbe impasse and the Ochologba/Egba upheavals are all because of ownership of fish ponds.

“Until these issues are resolved amicably, the marauding Fulani herdsmen will continue to ravage our land.

“I urge the governments at all levels to tackle the problems holistically, beginning with communal crisis and disunity in Agatu land in order to prevent extinction of our people as they are dying en masse daily.”

Also, a former Council Chairman of Apa Local Council, Hon Sunday Onehi, called on the Federal Government to take a very decisive action that could end the ongoing genocidal activities of Fulani herdsmen against his people.

He said most of the communities in Apa East had been deserted.

“As I am talking to you, the displaced people from the affected communities have become refugees and are squatting with the people they may not even know in Ugbokpo, Amoke, Otukpo and Makurdi, facing problems of food and shelter.

“The insecurity has refused to fade away despite all efforts. The Federal Government should wake up and proffer final solutions to the menace,” Hon Onehi submitted.

Another former Chairman of Apa LGA, Hon Ameh Akoche, lampooned the attackers for the ceaseless attacks, killings and kidnappings in the local government.

“The crisis has affected all the 6 Council Wards in Zone B and C out of the 11 wards in Apa LGA, namely- Ikobi, Edikwu I, Edikwu II, Oiji, Ojantele/Akpete and Ugbokpo.

“These are some of the main food producing areas in the local government.

“How are the people expected to cope up with hunger and general hardship in the coming months and years as they can no longer access their farms.

“The only option left now is for the Federal Government to wake up to its primary responsibility, which is protection of lives and property of the people, by carrying out a total military operation to flush out the attackers out of Apa and neighbouring Agatu and Gwer Gwer-West LGAs so that the people can go back to their ancestral homes to continue with their farming activities,” Hon Akoche opined.

Another stakeholder in Apa Local Government, Hon. Prince Antenyi Antenyi in his submission said the insecurity had lingered on for too long.

“I can’t imagine why insecurity has defied every solution. Nowhere is safe in the eastern parts of Apa LGA, houses, crops are completely destroyed, properties stolen, many killed and displaced.

“Let the Federal Government swiftly end the crisis now before it becomes too late for the people”, Antenyi said.

An attempt by an Ilorin-based businessman, Chukudubem Ezenwa, and one Adeleke Damilola, to frustrate a $10,000 alleged fraud trial has suffered a setback at a Federal High Court in Ilorin.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court in Ilorin on Wednesday struck out the objection challenging the admissibility of the extra-judicial statements tendered by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the $10,000 fraud trial involving the two suspects.

Chukwudubem and Adeleke were re-arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on cybercrime, retention of proceeds of crime and fraud to the tune of USD 10,000.

The two defendants were first arraigned on September 23, 2021, before Justice Muhammed Sani of the same court. However the trial could not be concluded before the redeployment of the former trial judge to another division, hence, the case was reassigned to another judge and had to start de novo.

Upon their arraignment on Monday, the two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the anti-graft agency, thereby setting the stage for a full trial.

But, Chukwudubem and Adeleke’s Counsels, Osinachi Odom and Tochi Ekwedike, at the point of tendering the extra-judicial statements of their clients objected to its admissibility claiming that they were coerced and made to write the statements under duress, intimidation and harassment.

Although Counsel to the EFCC, Innocent Mbachie urged the court to discountenance the objection on the grounds that it was an attempt to frustrate and delay trial, the court ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness or otherwise the statements of the defendants. Consequently, the case was adjourned till Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

At the resumed hearing of the trial-within-trial on Tuesday, the EFCC presented a video recording showing the first defendant volunteering his statement in the presence of his lawyer without intimidation or harassment. Thereafter, it sought to tender the video recording and the statements of the defendants, which carried the signature of their lawyers in evidence, which the court obliged.

In their arguments, the defence claimed that the video recording was doctored, as it did not capture the entire statement taken.

The judge, after listening to arguments and counterarguments from both sides, adjourned till Wednesday for ruling on the admissibility of the documents.

Justice Anyadike, in her ruling, said: “I note that the video recording was played in the open court, I observed that counsel to the first defendant was present, and he also counter-signed the statement. This Honourable Court did not see anything to suggest that the said statements were dictated to the first defendant to write.”

On the claim that the second witness in the trial-within-trial (TW2), Olamide Sadiq, sneaked into the cell at midnight to beat the first defendant, the court said: “The defence counsel had every opportunity to confront the said witness when he was in the witness box, but decided to be quiet about the allegations, thereby made the submission immaterial and mere imagination.”

The judge further said, “the insinuation and imagination of the defence counsel who did not enter the witness box of this court to give evidence in this case can not form the opinion of the court.”

”The court believed that the statements of the first and second defendants were obtained in line with Section 28 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

She noted that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses that the defendants made the statements at the EFCC’s general office, which was in a good atmosphere with a full air-conditioner, was not challenged nor contradicted by the defence.

The court, in the final analysis, dismissed the claims by the defence and admitted the documents as exhibits.

Thereafter, the case was adjourned till July 15, 2024, for continuation of trial.

A socio-cultural group of the Igala nation and interest worldwide, the Ane Igala Restoration (AIR), has dragged the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, to an Abuja High court over what it termed using the Atta of Igala for unhealthy political activities capable of fueling misunderstanding and also bringing his highly revered stool into disrepute.

In a writ of summons filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Bwari, the suit with the number W/1896/24 has the Attorney General of the Federation, Kogi State Attorney General, the Hon Minister of Steel Development, Kogi State Traditional Council and the Chairman Igala Area Traditional Council as Defendants respectively.

The Claimants in the said suit issued to newsmen in Jos the Plateau State capital yesterday are seeking an Order of the Court restraining the Defendants from manipulating the Atta Igala, prodding him on and causing him to embark on such actions that are meant to further the political or non-cultural interest of the Defendants.

This also includes an order restraining the Defendants from dragging the Atta Igala into all such non-cultural and traditional functions that are capable of bringing the revered stool of the Atta Igala into disrepute and collision with the Igala Nation and people across several states of the Nation whom the Atta Igala reigns over as their Supreme spiritual leader amidst other reliefs.

The Claimants filed two applications, both exparte and Motion on Notice for interim and interlocutory injunctions against the Defendants from causing the Attah Igala and other traditional rulers within his Council to embark on the visitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the purpose of making a political case in favour of the 3rd Defendant, that is the Executive Governor of Kogi State.

The matter which came up for hearing on Thursday had Salifu Oguche Usman Esq. held the brief of Chief Festus Ogwuche for the Claimants, while the Defendants were absent in court.

The plaintiffs seek the following claims against the defendants,

“A declaration that the revered stool of the Attah Igala and other kingship and Chieftaincy stools in the Igala Kingdom, being the traditional kingship offices embodying the spiritual, cultural, historical and traditional essence of the Igala people, imbued with the parent status and royalty of the race, must be preserved in their dignity and integrity at all times,

“A declaration that the Defendants, their servants, agents, and privies cannot drag the stool of the Attah Igala into the turf, murky waters and controversy of politics or be and as a pawn on the chessboard of power mongers, political elites or people in positions of authority for attaining cheap and parochial political ends, or for any reason and under any circumstance whatsoever by any executive occupant of political office except for matters relating with and pertaining to Igala culture and tradition, of which he is paramount king and chief custodian

“A perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants and privies from interfering with the culture and traditional essence of Igala land and its people by their various attempts to subsume and regulate these features as part of the political administration of Kogi State without a distinction as to their manifestations, significance and attribution resulting to undue manipulations and negatives influence of the sacrosanct traditional institutions and stools.

“An order compelling the defendants, their agents, servants and privies to recognize, the sacredness and spiritual essence of the Attah Igala’s traditional office and stool, as representing the foremost social cultural deity and traditional authority of the people of the Igala nation, and must be accorded the due known prestige, dignity and respect at all times.

“An order compelling the defendant, their agents, servants and privies from tampering with or doing anything and/or seeking to do anything with the occupant of the stool of the Attah Igala in any manner whatsoever and for whatsoever purpose excepting on matters and issues relating to and pertaining with the traditional instruments of his office and his position as the paramount king and traditional ruler of Igala land in his capacity as the custodian of the history, culture and tradition of the Igala people.”

The Claimants informed the court that though the processes have been served on the Defendants, hearing notice for the day’s proceedings weren’t served on the basis that there are some house cleaning applications to be made before bringing the Defendants properly before the court.

The Claimants therefore applied to withdraw motion No. 1324 and 1325 respectively, the same having been overtaken by events. Upon the application, the two motions were accordingly withdrawn and therefore struck out.

The Claimants further applied to have the names of some of the Claimants on record struck off the writ, and the court however directed that the said application should be made formally.

The matter was therefore adjourned to 11th July 2024 for hearing, and the hearing was ordered to be served on all parties.

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, KADIRS, on Thursday sealed two hotels, an event centre and other business premises within the Kaduna metropolis over unpaid taxes totalling about N422.6 million.

It was reported that the sealed business premises were Seals Admiralty Naval Suites owned by Navy Travels and Tours, Abuja, and Deluxe Suites located at Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna.

Others are Big City Event Centre, Bijo Surgical & Scientific Limited, Zedvance Finance Limited, TXTLight Power Solution, Lek Dental & Maxillofacial Hospital, Azaka, and Enyo filling station, among others.

KADIRS Board Secretary and Legal Advisor, Aysha Ahmad, said that the exercise was aimed at enforcing compliance by the businesses that failed to carry out their civic responsibility of tax payment.

She said “As usual, we are left with no option than the powers vested on us by the law to enforce compliance. This is why we are restraining on the premises.”

Ahmad stressed that KADIRS derived no joy in sealing properties of tax defaulters.

She said that the agency encourages voluntary compliance, which is why all possible means are exhausted before enforcement.

She called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a civic responsibility.

The chairman of Bali Local Government Council of Taraba State, Dauda Aboki, has finally broken his silence over allegations making the rounds on workers monthly remuneration.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Jalingo, the state capital, the chairman dismissed allegations that some staff have not received their salaries for over four months.

Some of the council workers had earlier complained about delayed payments, pointing fingers at the chairman.

Reacting to the allegations, Aboki, who described the claims as unfounded, clarified that most of the disgruntled workers are not officially recorded on the council’s payroll.

The employees, according to him, were initially intended to replace their retired or deceased parents, but their documentation has not been completed, leading to delays in salary processing.

Laying the blame on the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in the council, he urged them to ensure that the workers in question are properly documented.

Aboki also emphasized that his administration has no negative intentions toward the affected workers or NULGE but insisted on following due process to maintain accountability.

While explaining that the number of employees in question does not exceed 37, he vowed that once the proper documentation is completed, the workers will be included in the payroll and paid accordingly.

Abdulmumuni Isa, the NULGE chairman, had earlier confirmed that the workers have not been paid since January 2024.

The NULGE boss also warned that the unresolved salary delays could severely impact the council’s operations if not urgently addressed.

Some of the disgruntled workers who spoke with DAILY POST, shared their frustration, stating that they had been employed in various departments within the council and had received their monthly pay slips and promotions.

They also noted that the chairman’s refusal to pay their salaries for four months has led to hunger, starvation, and general hardship among them and their families.

The House of Representatives has called on Vice President Kashim Shettima to summon an emergency meeting for the urgent resuscitation of the Gbarain Power Plant in Bayelsa State to enhance the efficiency of the national grid.

Shettima doubles as the Chairman of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Board.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at plenary on Thursday by Hon. Oboku Oforji.

The House also summoned the Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr Joseph Ugbo, to appear before its Committee on Power to explain the state of the Gbarain Power Plant.

Moving the motion, he said the Gbarain Power Plant is an open cycle gas turbine power plant built to accommodate future conversion to combined cycle gas turbine configuration.

Oforji explained that the plant is also an operating power station of at least 252 megawatts located in Koroama, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

He recalled that the NDPHC lost the Power Control Module of the Gbarain Power Plant to a fire incident.

The lawmaker added that the Bayelsa State Government offered to take up some responsibilities of the NDPHC, since it was the most affected, particularly as the state-owned Niger Delta University derives its electricity supply from the station.

He noted that the State Government also undertook the rehabilitation and restoration of power supply through the 60MVA,132/33KV power transformer which is currently supplying the Gbarain Power Station auxiliaries and the host communities through the 2×15 MVA33/11KV injection substation, which was not functioning before the intervention.

Oforji added: “Saddened that rather than resuscitate the power plant which was built with $400m and valued as of today at over $800m, the management of the NDPHC is proposing to designate the 252MW Open Cycle Power station as a construction site, thereby abandoning its primary responsibility of running it to the benefit of the state, the Niger Delta and the nation at large.

“One is prompted to doubt the competence of NDPHC to manage this power plant which has the potential to be the largest power station in the nation because of its comparative advantage over other power plants in its proximity to gas,” Oforji said, adding that “Reaching its potentials, Gbarain Power Station can conveniently power the whole Niger Delta region and beyond.”

He further added that the Shell Petroleum Development Company has over 60MMsc of gas allocated to the plant which is not utilised due to the inability of the company to operate.

Twenty-six Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, scholarship students have bagged first class in Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

A statement released by Igoniko Oduma, the Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator of the PAP, Chief Dennis Otuaro, said the Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, disclosed this when the PAP administrator visited the institution on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Otuaro visited Igbinedion University and Benson Idahosa University, Benin, both in Edo State, to interact with the universities’ managements and students on the scholarship of the PAP in the two institutions.

Otuaro expressed his commitment to sustaining the peace, security and development in the Niger Delta through the Presidential Amnesty Programme in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision.

Otuaro equally assured that he would implement the Amnesty Programme effectively to build confidence in the Niger Delta region and garner support for the Federal Government.

He said, “The Presidential Amnesty Programme is crucial for fostering enduring peace in the Niger Delta. By implementing it efficiently and effectively, we can garner greater support for the Federal Government’s efforts to promote security and development in the Niger Delta.

“That is the vision of President Bola Tinubu which I seek to execute. He believes in sustaining the peace of the Niger Delta. With the president’s belief in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, we need to work harder to ensure that the confidence reposed in us is strengthened.”

Otuaro acknowledged that the Igbinedion University was the first tertiary educational institution to accept PAP scholarship students, saying that their graduates were part of the success story of the Amnesty Programme.

The PAP boss said the Amnesty Programme office would deepen collaboration with its partners with a view to expanding the scope of operations.

He applauded the Founder of Igbinedion University, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, and the university’s management on their 25th anniversary celebration this year.

Interacting with the PAP scholarship students of both universities, who highlighted some of the challenges they were facing, Otuaro assured them that the Amnesty Programme office would address the problems accordingly.

He urged them to shun social vices and take their studies seriously in order for them to be declared worthy in character and learning at their graduation.

The VC of Igbinedion University, Ezemoye, in his remarks, said that apart from the 26 first class graduates, many other PAP scholarship students also got distinctions in professional courses like medicine, nursing and medical laboratory, among others.

Noting that the programme was impacting greatly on the students, the VC commended the PAP for meeting the obligations of the students under scholarship to put them in the vantage position to excel.

Ezemoye promised a strengthened collaborative relation with the PAP in the area of offering opportunities to students in competitive courses like medicine and surgery, nursing, pharmacy, Law and others, especially with the recent increase in its quota of admission.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, was established by the Federal Government as a vehicle to transform ex-agitators in the Niger Delta into entrepreneurs and/or employable citizens who will become net contributors to the economy of the region and the country through effective collaboration with relevant public and private institutions and state governments.

The mission of the PAP include restoring the mandate of the Amnesty Programme to its original intent and take service to the Niger Delta where the ex-agitators are domiciled.

The PAP was also mandated to train the ex-agitators to become entrepreneurs who will act as agents of change to reverse the narrative of a people dependent on stipends, turning them into self-actualised employers of labour and net contributors to the economic prosperity of the Niger Delta.

The Programme was also tasked with coordinating and cooperating with relevant agencies set up by the Federal Government to ensure the development and security of the Niger Delta in line with the broader Amnesty Package.

The Bauchi State House of Assembly has revealed it will pass a bill to develop a framework of action to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.

Chairman House Committee on Education, Dr Nasiru Ahmed Ala, disclosed this at a two-day Regional Stakeholders Engagement Meeting on the Out-of-School Children and the Retention, Transition and Completion Models in Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa states held at Emerald Hotel Hall, Gombe, Gombe Staten on Thursday.

Ala, representing the Madara/Chinede constituency in the State Assembly, expressed deep concern over the significant number of out-of-school children in Bauchi, estimated at 1.2 million.

He emphasised the urgency of addressing the issue and highlighted the collaborative efforts of lawmakers from Adamawa and Gombe States to adopt the National Framework of Action in their respective states.

In his remark at the workshop, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Tushar Rane, reiterated the U.N agency‘s commitment to addressing the high rate of out-of-school children and low learning achievements, particularly in the north-east and north-west regions of Nigeria.

He also emphasised the importance of the workshop in providing models to guide states in tackling the out-of-school children phenomenon, enhancing community accountability and mobilization, utilizing innovations and technologies to improve access to quality education, and financing efforts to reduce out-of-school children in the state.