The vision for Southwest regional integration driven by a single political party has continued to be a mirage with the defeat suffered by All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State. Although the architects of the regional integration argue that collaboration of the six states within the geographical zone was non-political but to advance their economic, social and cultural interests which had its roots from the First Republic when the region was being governed by Action Group (AG) under the leadership of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The dominance of a party continued in the region for a greater part of the Second Republic when Unity Party (UPN) held sway in the Southwest between 1979 and 1983, but it has become tough in the current dispensation for a political party to win all the six states and push the regional integration agenda from the same political philosophy.

Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled Ondo State for many years, while Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo States had at one time or the other been governed by PDP. With the governorship elections held in Osun and Ekiti States last year, all the six states in the Southwest are now being controlled by the APC, but that will cease by May 29 this year when Engineer Seyi Makinde of PDP will be sworn in as the governor of Oyo State.


A public analyst, Dr. Nureeni Adigun said, “For the purpose of regional integration, Oyo State is key and central because this is the capital of the region, but the governors of the other five states controlled by APC must work harder and show extra love to the new governor of Oyo State who will look like an orphan among them to achieve anything”.

But the question many are asking is, “How did APC lose its goodwill in Oyo State?
That APC lost both the presidential and governorship elections to the PDP was not a surprise to those that have been following the political trajectory of the state especially since 2015 when Governor Abiola Ajimobi won the second term which was unprecedented in the history of the state. However, the governor and his close allies failed to realise that Ajimobi was only fortunate to benefit from the political hurricane of the newly formed APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s larger than life image in the Southwest and the inability of the opposition to come together which gave him 30.1 per cent of all total votes cast in 2015 to retain his office.

But instead of working on that diminishing popularity compared to the margin with which he won in 2011, the praise singers and sycophants went to town and nicknamed him Koseleri (literally meaning one who achieved what never happened) governor. Ajimobi began to see himself not only as a colossus but an emperor who has absolute power to achieve whatever he considered the best and took joy in referring to himself as “constituted authority”, a sobriquet he assumed while addressing students of LAUTECH that protested against several months of industrial action embarked upon by the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university.

Ajimobi’s performance and prudent management of resources was not in doubt, but his alleged arrogance and inability to control his tongue became a political tool that dwarfted his achievements in redefining governance and running of an unusual government.

But the sign of the impending disaster, which was not averted, became public with the parallel congress held last year by the party. That APC was polarized shortly after he won the second term was not in doubt. Ajimobi, who rose to power through the political structure of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adeshina, had built another structure known as SENACO and the bitter war of attrition between the two groups led to the weakness of the party structure in the state.

While the LAMISTS cried out that they were being marginalized in terms of political appointment and patronage, APC members in SENACO were allegedly grabbing all opportunities and priviledges from the government. Ajimobi and his aides denied this allegation and failed to readjust and extend the goodies to the disgruntled members.

This continued till the party held its primaries, which the group saw as payback time. It took them little efforts to merge forces with the Mandate Forum to form a formidable force against Ajimobi and his SENACO group. Although Ajimobi had his way but the cracks within APC structure made it vulnerable and many enemies within the party worked against its success.

Many of the disenchanted members defected to African Democratic Congress (ADC). But what surprised many observers was the unperturbed disposition of Ajimobi for losing a chunk of party leaders with grassroots supports. But all these were unknown to the national leadership of the party, which trusted Ajimobi so much that he was made a peacemaker to other states where there were internal crisis.

His face-off with the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu was said to be poorly handled. Although many have argued that the Minister, who rose to the position through his personal relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, has “no electoral value” but keeping him as an enemy within the party was strategically wrong for a party that wanted to win an election. Shittu publicly declared that he would work against his anointed candidate, Bayo Adelabu and he did.

The result of the presidential election where Atiku Abubakar polled 366,690 to defeat APC’s Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, who scored 365,229 and the senatorial election where Kola Balogun of PDP scored 105,720 to trump Ajimobi, who recorded 92,579 was a referendum on some of the policies of the governor who fought many elites in Ibadan, including the monarch of the town, Oba Saliu Adetunji, over the review of Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration that led to multiplicity of monarchs in the ancient city.

While the governor had argued that it was a development necessary for the city seeking a creation of Ibadan State, many believed otherwise. This led to a bitter acrimony and legal tussle between him and the monarch. The court ruled in favour of the monarch but the state government appealed against the judgment.

The controversy did not favour Ajimobi’s political ambition, who is now being seen as an outcast in the city. It is so bad that a traditional group in Ibadan disowned him as an Ibadan indigene and traced his lineage to Oshogbo. They alleged that it was Agboluaje family that rehabilitated his father. They even went to the extent of politicizing how his younger brother, Wasiu, rose from Mogaji to Jagun and placed him above his seniors within a year, a situation they said Olubadan will certainly review after May 29.

Ajimobi’s battered image was further dented by the demolition of the Music House of the juju gospel artiste, Yinka Ayefele; it also housed his radio station. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Toye Arulogun, had accused the radio station owner of allowing too much of opposition elements to criticize the government. While the arguments ensued, the government gave the radio station demolition notice, alleging that the station was flouting physical and environmental laws. Before the radio station could defend itself, the government rolled in caterpillars to demolish a section of the building, even when the matter was in court.

This singular act, described as intolerance of the opposition by Ajimobi’s administration, further heightened negative sentiment against his government. Feeling the heat, the government made a dramatic turn around and reconciled with Ayefele while the building was reconstructed.

One of his critics, Kehinde Salami, said, “We all knew his government has ended the day he demolished Ayefele’ radio station. When he lost face in the public he went to rebuild it. So, what Ajimobi said was illegal just became legal without court pronouncement. He spent public funds to demolish it and still expended public funds to rebuild it. You can see what has come of Emperor Ajimobi. Oyo state is too civilized for this kind of behaviour”.

Also, Oyo State APC could not fly in the governorship election because Adedibu, who quit his job as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to give the governorship election a shot, strongly relied on the ability of Ajimobi to win election for him. Many in the state said the grandson of the successful Ibadan parliamentarian, the late Chief Adegoke Adelabu, had even seen himself as governor-in-waiting immediately he won the APC primaries.

His campaign rode on Ajimobi’s back with visibility of his own before the presidential election. This would jolt him into the stark reality of his precarious position. His attempt to carve a niche for himself and distance his campaign from what many described as “bad fortunes” of Ajimobi came too late to have any impact in the society that had written off APC. It was a case of throwing away a child with bath water.

However, observers are of the opinion that Ajimobi’s “sins” might not have been strong enough to cause APC that election if the opposition parties had not closed ranks and worked together to confront APC.

With the result of the presidential election where PDP won majority votes for its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, other opposition parties including, ADC, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and African Democratic Party (ADP), led by former Governor Christopher Adebayo Akala, went into alliance with the aim of forming a unity government and wrestling power from APC.


While the negotiation was going on, APC national leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, met with Akala and the former governor, who was the convener of the opposition parties against APC, decided to form alliance with the party.

Although details of the meeting of the Akala and Tinubu were not made public, it was alleged that the former governor had been promised to be let off the hook of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) that had been trying him for alleged fraud and other financial considerations. Akala did not only work for APC but also denied Makinde from using his radio station based in Ogbomosho for live broadcast of his campaign.

But former Governor Rasheed Ladoja provided the leadership for the opposition parties and convinced Senator Femi Lanlehin (ADC), Sharafadeen Alli (ZLP), Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SDP) to drop their governorship ambitions and join Makinde to get a resounding victory for the PDP. Makinde received 515, 621 votes to defeat his closest rival from APC, Adelabu, who polled 357, 982 votes. The margin of defeat is 157,639 votes.

Besides, PDP won in 28 out of 33 local councils while APC won in five. ADP won one local council.

Two female have been gang-raped and killed later on and their lifeless bodies have been dumped at Abrepo, a popular suburb in Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti region.

The two ladies, one honest and the other with dark complexion had been most likely killed and dumped in the area due to the fact that the residents of the Abrepo neighborhood states they do no longer know any of the girls and can verify they do now not stay in the area.

The lifeless stays were discovered early hours of today, Thursday, March 21, 2019. The women have been roughly striped giving the influence the women fought with their attackers for their life.

The dark girl after being killed was once position in the doggy fashion role with her pinnacle on but she was completely bare waist down.

The fair one was left prostrate with only her brassiere and the stays of her torn top dress. She was once additionally bare waist down..

Three Nollywood movies – ‘Up North’, ‘Lionheart’ and ‘King of Boys’ have been selected for screening at the second edition of the ‘Nollywood In Hollywood’ on Friday and Saturday in the United States.

Organisers of the event said the screening begins on Friday evening with a red carpet and opening night screening of ‘Up North’ at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.

‘Up North’ stars Banky W and is directed by Tope Oshin, both of whom are in Hollywood courtesy of Air France for the event.

On Saturday, ‘Nollywood in Hollywood’ moves to the Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre at the University of Southern California.

The day kicks off with a panel discussion about current trends in ‘Nollywood’, followed by a screening of ‘LIONHEART’, the directorial debut of Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji, who also co-wrote and stars in the film.

The showcase will close with a screening of KING OF BOYS, the sophomore feature by Kemi Adetiba, whose 2016 debut film, THE WEDDING PARTY, smashed box office records to become the highest grossing Nigerian film of all time.

The showcase features screenings, networking events and parties.

‘Nollywood In Hollywood’ is the brainchild of Nigerian-American filmmaker, Ose Oyamendan, which initiative is designed to expose ‘Nollywood’ films to the capital of the world’s entertainment industry.

Oyamendan said:

“I look at it as a way of giving back to my country and broadening opportunities for Nollywood filmmakers and actors.

“Most people abroad know one side of Nigeria, the not-too-good side, now they get a chance to see another side and watch our stories.

“Thanks to our partners, Nollywood has the biggest audience in the world over the next few days”.

Gwen Deglise, the head of programming at the American Cinematheque said:

“The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre is proud to partner with O2A Media and the USC School of Cinematic Arts for a second year to present ‘Nollywood in Hollywood’.

“We are thrilled that this event offers both our members and the larger Los Angeles film audience we serve, a window into Nigerian culture and filmmaking.”

 

The Imo state governor, Rochas Okorochas, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, has filed a suit against INEC, challenging the authority of the electoral body to withhold his Certificate of Return as the senator-elect for Imo West senatorial district, Igbere Tv reports.

Recall that the commission refused to issue him the certificate of return after Professor Francis Ibeawuchi, the Returning Officer for the February 23rd election, said he announced Okorocha as the winner of the senatorial election "under duress".

The suit was filed by his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Okorocha made the plaintiff made INEC the sole defendant in the suit.

However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, the presiding judge, by the agreement of the counsels involved in the case, made an order permitting Jones Onyeriri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election and Senator Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to be joined as the 2nd and 3rd defendants.

Both candidates of the other parties were represented by their lawyers: Nwafor Orizu for Izunaso, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) for Onyeriri. INEC was represented by Mrs. Wendy Kuku.

Justice Taiwo ordered the defendants to file and exchange their processes within 10 days, while the plaintiff's counsel was given three days to respond to them.

The case was adjourned till April 5.

A Japanese company has taken breastfeeding to another level with a new device that allows men to participate. The device has two fake breasts which could trick any baby into thinking that the milk was coming from ‘original source’.

The new Japanese product was designed by a company called Dentsu which allows dads to “breastfeed” their babies by using the wearable device that holds milk or formula.
The product was showcased at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas and is called the “Father’s Nursing Assistant.”

The device has two fake “breasts” and lets dads feed their babies and promotes skin-to-skin contact between fathers and infants. One side holds milk or formula and the other side contains the nipple system.
The device doesn’t just feed the baby, it also tracks data about breastfeeding sessions and transmits the info to the father’s smart phone.

 

 

A pastor is currently making the rounds online after doing an unexpected thing during church service on Sunday, March 17th.

Apostle Kenneth popularly called Kenny of the Divine Fruit Church of Christ, Kanye in Botswana, killed a dog and ate it raw in the church after claiming it has been blessed.

The church members were not left out as some partook in eating the raw meat including a little baby.

Sharing pictures from the service on the church’s official Facebook page, the below caption was written;

”Eat of me, whoever eats of me will never die. No one will force you to partake but that which I give is of my Spirit to confirm my word. When you eat of me it will be unto perfection.

Nothing can be given unto you unless it is given by the Father. If I eat you have already eaten because you believe in me.

We eat everything, if it is blessed it is approved.”

Nigeria's apex revenue collection body, The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Wednesday refuted report of planned increment of Value Added Tax (VAT) by 50 per cent to meet up payment of the newly proposed minimum wage.

Mr Wahab Gbadamosi who is the Head, Communication and Servicom Department, made this known in a statement in Abuja. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udo Udoma and Dr Babatunde Fowler, FIRS Chairman, had appeared before Senate Committee on Finance at the 2019-2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper ((PSP) interactive meeting on Tuesday.

Gbadamosi explained that at the meeting, Fowler had called for an increase in the number of Nigerians and companies paying VAT and not a 50 per cent increase in VAT rate as reported. He said that contrary to reports in the media, the FIRS Chairman called for a reduction in Companies Income Tax (CIT) rate for small businesses so as to improve compliance.
“Though he indicated that there should be an increase in VAT rate by the end of the year, he never for once suggested a 50 per cent hike of any percentage increase at all.

“Rather, he promised improved collection in CIT, Petroleum Profits Tax, PPT and VAT in 2019 relative to the collection performance of the Service in 2018,” he said. (NAN)

An official of Standard Chartered Bank, Ifeoma Okeagbue, gave some details of the balances on the five different accounts of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday.

Okeagbue, who is Team Leader, Priority Banking, as well as Onnoghen’s Relationship Manager at the branch of the bank in Wuse II, Abuja, said all the bank accounts were still active.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the suspended CJN on charges of false and non-declaration of assets, Okeagbue said the accounts opened separately between 2009 and 2010 were in euro, pounds, dollar and naira denominations.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), Okeagbue said the euro and the pounds accounts were savings, the dollar account was current and the two other accounts were in naira denominations, with one being savings account and the other current.

Reading from the statements of the accounts earlier admitted as exhibits, Okeagbue said, “On the account 5001062686, the opening balance in January 2018 was €30,178.58.

“As at December 2018, the balance was €10,187.18.

“On account 5001062693, at January 2018, it is with opening balance of N6,411,312.77.

“At December 2018, the balance is N12,852,580.52

“On account 5001062679 the opening balance as at January 2018 was £39,456.08 and by December 2018 the balance was £13,730.70.

“On account 0001062667, the opening balance as at January 2018 was N24,280,904 and as at December 2018, the balance was N2,656,019.21.

“On account 0001062650, as of January 2018, the opening balance was $80,824.25, and by January 2019, the balance was $56,878.”

Christians In Southern Cameroon Hide on the Ground For Safety As Gunshots fly all over after Soldiers Attacked Their Village in Buea.

The English Speaking Part Of Cameroon "Sourthern Cameroon" has been Under siege and attack for months now by the Francophone Cameronian Army and Their President, Paul Biya who has been in Power for 36 long years!!!

People are been Massacred by the army all over southern cameroon All because southern Cameroon wants to be on their own and they are asking for Independence, The President has Managed to keep all his Atrocities away from the world because he is in control of almost all the entire Media outlets in Cameroon.

Manchester United caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given the club’s executive chairman, Ed Woodward, the list of players to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Daily Star reports that Solskjaer wants Ed Woodward to sell out Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Alexis Sanchez at the end of the season.

Solskjaer has made a major impression since being put in caretaker charge following former Red Devils boss, Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December.

The Norwegian has won 10 out of the 13 Premier League games since his appointment and reached the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will tackle Barcelona in April.

The 46-year-old had said earlier this week that he is now working as if he will remain at Old Trafford for many years.

According to him,

“It is clear that I am now working as if I will stay at Man United.

“I think of the club five and 10 years ahead of time now as well.”

Solskjaer’s men are currently in the fifth position on the Premier League table with 58 points from 30 games.

The federal government has closed its case against Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The government closed after calling three witnesses to the stand.

At the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Thursday, Aliyu Umar, counsel to the government, announced that they closed the case despite the fact that they had initially listed six witnesses.

Umar said the three other witnesses could still be called to the stand if the defence wants to cross-examine them.

“I have called three witnesses. If the defence needs them, I can call the other three,” the lawyer said.

Responding, Adeboyega Awomolo, counsel to Onnoghen, rejected the offer.

“I don’t want them, I don’t want them,” he said.

Awomolo then informed the tribunal that they intend to file a no-case submission but they would need time to write an address.

“We intend to take advantage of section 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 on no-case submission,” he said.

“If your lordship permits me to write a written address. I’m praying to be given proceedings of 18th and today.”

Thereafter, Danladi Umar, CCT chairman, ordered Awomolo to serve his address on the prosecution on Wednesday.

Umar then fixed March 29 as day counsels would adopt their addresses.

Onnoghen is standing trial on a six-count charge bordering on false asset declaration.

A retired Director at the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr Awal Yakassai, on Thursday, testified as for the second prosecution witness, PW-2, in the ongoing trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is facing trial over his alleged failure to declare his assets.

Yakassai told the Mr Danladi Umar led a three-man panel of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, that contrary to what was alleged in the media, he said the suspended CJN owned only five houses.

He said it was not true that CCB investigators linked the ownership of 55 houses to the defendant.

The witness made the disclosure after he was shown copies of Justice Onnoghen’s asset declaration forms, which the Federal Government tendered in evidence before the CCT.

The embattled CJN was said to have submitted the forms marked as Exhibit 2 and 3, to the CCB in 2014 and 2015.

Answering questions under cross-examination, the PW-2, told the tribunal that he served at the CCB for 29 years before he retired in April 2018.

He said the CCB was yet to verify Justice Onnoghen’s assets with a view to finding out if he made false declarations

Holding the two documents in his hand while responding to a question from Onnoghen’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the witness said: “My lord, according to exhibit 2 and 3, the defendant has only five buildings and not 55”.

Awomolo noted that one of the five buildings was given to the defendant by the federal government itself.

Continuing his testimony, the witness, told the tribunal that verification columns on Onnoghen’s two asset declaration forms were still empty.

He said: “As indicated here, the column for verified assets have not been signed as at today” he added, saying it was standard practice at the CCB that returned asset declaration forms must pass through three stages of verification.

“My lord we have three stages of verification, the first is at the time of submission of forms, the second is what we called conference verification whereby we invite the person. And the third is physical verification of the assets.

“Until these three stages are completed, we cannot say that the assets have been verified”.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the CCB, Danladi Umar, had earlier threatened to give 28 years jail term to journalists that misrepresent proceedings on the CJN’s trial,

Umar, who said he was displeased about “the distortion and misrepresentation” of what transpired at the tribunal last Monday by a section of the media, warned that he would henceforth wield his powers against journalists.

“Henceforth, any journalist carrying concocted or discredited statement which is not adduced before this tribunal, I will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law heavily on the person.

“The journalist will languish there and may remain there (in prison) until I retire about 28 years from now.

“The person will be summarily sent to prison because that is contempt.

“It does not matter whether the contempt is committed in facie curiae (before the court) or ex facie curiae (outside the court)”, he fumed.

The CCT boss has given FG’s lawyer, Mr Aliyu Umar, the nod to call a second witness to give evidence against the suspended CJN who is answering to a six-count charge.

Aside allegation that he failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law, FG had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19, FG, alleged that Onnoghen operated five foreign bank accounts, contrary to section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

FG had insisted that it was the CCB that okayed Onnoghen’s trial based on certain infractions that were discovered in his asset declaration forms.

Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II CON today received a courtesy visit from Kano State Commissioner of Police Muhammad Wakili at his palace.CP Wakili photos went viral when he prevented Kano State deputy governor from subverting the will of the people during governorship election in Kano.

 

 

A man identified as George Daniel took to Facebook to share the sad of his
friend,Jumbo Ogah,a Civil Defense staff who was beaten to death by police.Read the story he shared below.....

'YESTERDAY NIGHT I got a call that JUMBO OGAH was beaten to death by the police. It was unbelievable. You see, I spent four years in Bayero University Kano with Jumbo. We were in the same class and the same room for almost three of this four years. He knew almost everyone in my family. In fact the last job he was doing before he joined NSCDC was with my senior brother of which I introduced him to back then.

JUMBO OGAH was an Assistant Superintendent of Civil Defense Corps. He was wearing Uniform, taking his two children to school, with his wife inside the car. In a hurry to catch up so that his children don’t get there late, he followed one way and the police stopped him. He tried to explain but they dragged him out of his vehicle and started beating him with baton. They took him to their police station and beat him to death. He was wearing NSCDC uniform.

I have informed some of our room mates about this happening and no one believes it but this is real. They killed him in front of his wife and children. Nigeria is really hopeless.

I remember visiting his mother many years ago during one of my visit to OTUKPO. He was a carbon copy of his mom. Anytime I remember her I laugh. She concluded I am not Idoma because she taught I had Hausa accent.

How can you beat a man to death in front of his wife and children? Not just any man, an NSCDC man in uniform.

Now I am very scared of this country. I don’t feel safe. It is not safe. In the broad day light the police beat him to death, in front of his wife and children, Jumbo Ogah, Jumbostic, this is someone that I knew and have lived with and someone who knew me. This is the dream Nigeria that he is serving gave him as a gift, death'

Injuries and avoidable accidents that occur on highways are not always due to bad roads as claimed by road users, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said.

According to him, road accidents are largely due to speeding and the recklessness of drivers, as no driver speeds on a bad road.

Fashola disclosed this in Abuja at a capacity building workshop on the activation of the five United Nations’ Convention on Road Traffic acceded to by Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on Wednesday, the minister noted that the workshop underscored the importance and commitment of the government on the safety of the lives of Nigerians.

He, however, stated that injuries and avoidable accidents that occurred daily on highways were regrettable.

Fashola told participants at the workshop that there was no state in Nigeria that the Federal Government was not executing one road project or the other.

He said the ministry would soon embark on the deployment of manpower for the erection of additional road signs to provide the required guidance, support and direction to road users.

The minister charged the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify efforts on public enlightenment campaigns, orientation and education of drivers to be of good behaviour while on highways in order to ensure the safety of lives and property.

On his part, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, said his organisation would not have recorded success if not for the support it got from stakeholders in the road and transport sector.

He expressed gratitude to the United Nation’s envoy for sponsoring the capacity building workshop and promised that the corps would continue to work hard to ensure safety on Nigerian roads.

A barbing saloon operator whose identity still remains unknown, was Wednesday morning murdered by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

The incident occurred at Idumwunowina, a community on Benin-Lagos highway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the deceased who recently got a loan for his saloon business, was just opening for the day’s business at about 8.00am, when three gunmen stormed his shop and opened fire on him.

A source in the community who craved anonymity, said the gunmen who came on a motorcycle, escaped through the Oluku end of the Benin-Lagos road unchallenged.

Residents were said to have scampered to safety when they heard gunshots fired by the assassins.

Our correspondent gathered that security operatives from the Ugbowo and Ekiadolor police divisions were immediately drafted to the scene.

In a related incident, a 23-year-old National Diploma Accounting student of Auchi Polytechnic, Emmanuel Aronokhale, has been reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen.

The deceased, who hailed from Okpilla in Estako East Local Government Area of the State, was reportedly killed at about 8.00pm on Tuesday at his residence at Second Bawak, Sabo, Auchi.

The deceased was said to be relaxing in front of the hostel with other students when he was shot at close range and he died at the spot.

It was also gathered that the gunmen ordered the other students into their various rooms where they robbed them of their money and mobile phones.

It was learnt that the remains of the student has been deposited in a mortuary in an undisclosed hospital in Auchi.

When contacted on phone over the incident, Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was yet to be briefed on the killing of the barbing saloon operator in the state.

Diamond Bank Plc. (“Diamond Bank”) announces that the Federal High Court of Nigeria has on March 19, 2019 sanctioned the Scheme of Merger pursuant to which Access Bank Plc will acquire the entire issued share capital of Diamond Bank through a cash and share exchange (the “Merger”).

All conditions to the Merger, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulatory approvals have been satisfied and the Scheme is now effective.

The Scheme record time was 6.00 p.m. (Nigerian time) on 19 March 2019, and no transfers of Diamond Bank shares is expected after this time.

Trading in the shares of Diamond Bank has been suspended on The Nigerian Stock Exchange effective March 20, 2019.

Diamond Bank further announces that the Directors hereby seize to be Directors of the dissolved Diamond Bank Plc effective March 19, 2019.

The Merger is expected to be completed on 1 April 2019. Full details of the Merger, including the terms and conditions of the Scheme and the Merger, are set out in the Scheme Document dated 24 January 2019.

 

A Senegalese man abducted 51 children when he hijacked an Italian school bus and set the vehicle alight in a protest over migrant deaths in the Mediterranean.

Ousseynou Sy, originally Senegalese but with Italian citizenship, stopped the bus he was driving, with two classes of high school students on board.

He was said to have ordered the children's hands to be bound and threatened to kill them and himself during the drive, before setting the vehicle on fire when he was stopped by a police blockade today.

Officers broke the glass in the back door of the bus and got all the passengers to safety without serious injury before the flames destroyed the vehicle, authorities said.

As he was apprehended, the driver said he was protesting migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, Commander Luca De Marchis told Sky TG24.

The incident happened in San Donato Milanese, a town near Milan, Italy.

The 47-year-old father of two, whose ex-wife is Italian, has been arrested and charged with carnage and kidnapping, worsened by the fact that most of the people involved are under age.

De Marchis told Sky TG24 that the driver, an Italian citizen of Senegalese origin in his 40s, threatened the passengers, telling them that 'no one would survive today' as he commandeered the bus carrying two middle-school classes in Cremona province, some 25 miles (40 kilometres) from Milan.

ANSA quoted one of the students as saying the driver took all their phones and ordered the chaperones to bind the students' hands with cable ties, threatening to spill gas and set the bus ablaze.

The student, whose name was not given, said a classmate managed to conceal his phone.

Authorities said that an adult called an emergency operator, while one of the students called a parent, and they alerted authorities, who set up roadblocks.