Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
A Socio-Political group identified as United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) has outlined a 5-point plan to achieve meaningful peace and development in Nigeria. This comes amid debates over a constitutional amendment, restructuring, Local Government autonomy and the need for economic diversification to make various component units of Nigeria’s federation viable to support the growth and well-being of citizens. The group in a statement titled, “New Governance Model for Nigeria”, said it arrived at the decisions after a series of consultations and detailed analysis of diverse proposals over the dire situation in today’s Nigeria, adding that restructuring, regionalism, and referendum are…
Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov is expected to appear in court Sunday after being arrested by French police at an airport near Paris for alleged offences related to his popular messaging app, sources told AFP. The Franco-Russian billionaire, 39, was detained at Le Bourget airport north of the French capital on Saturday evening. Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov is expected to appear in court Sunday after being arrested by French police at an airport near Paris for alleged offences related to his popular messaging app, sources told AFP. The Franco-Russian billionaire, 39, was detained at Le Bourget airport north of…
Love or hate him, he’s of a stellar cast from the South East. And therefore, a huge asset to the political powerhouse and in the configuration of the current leadership of the region. At every turn, generations have always received the Divine benevolence of a virile political persona in such a magnanious stance. And now is no exception. Time was when Dr. Nnamdi Benjamin Azikwe, the Zik of Africa whose name still resonates was the toast of the world. Ditto Dr. Micheal Iheonukara Okpara, the premier of the defunt south eastern region. In their quest for the development of their…
The Acting Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, has called on the Federal Government to urgently redeploy military forces to the Alawa community in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state. The community was recently overrun by armed bandits. The federal government had withdrawn troops from the area five months ago, a decision that has left the community vulnerable to incessant attacks by bandits. Governor Garba’s appeal came in the wake of a fresh devastating attack on Wednesday, where 13 farmers were brutally killed while working in their fields on the outskirts of the Alawa community. The attack has…
The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen in support of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu for calling on Governor Alex Otti to return to the ruling party at the centre, as Labour Party will be kicked out in 2027. This is just as the State Executive Council of the party vowed to suspend one Okey Ezeala for parading himself as the APC Publicity Secretary in Abia and issuing an unauthorized statement on behalf of the EXCO. The Abia APC Chairman, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu who made the position…
An Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has condemned attacks on the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu over his declaration that the All Progressives Congress(APC) will take over Abia State in 2027. It could be recalled that Kalu, while appearing on a media show had declared that as number 6 citizen of the country, his state won’t remain in opposition. His speech has attracted wild condemnation, especially from members of the Labour Party, Governor Alex Otti’s political platform. However, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, the National President of Ohanaeze…
The Commander National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abia State Command, Adelanwa Adetunji, has called on residents of Abia State to embrace the use of Urine Drug Test Kits as a proactive measure to reduce drug demand and prevent substance abuse. Adetunji who disclosed this on Thursday in Aba the commercial hub of the state expressed concern over the alarming rate of drug abuse in the country. He cited the 2018 national drug use survey, which revealed that a staggering 143 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 are abusing illicit substances. The NDLEA Commander emphasised that the Drug Test Kit, launched…
Oando Plc has completed the acquisition of Eni’s subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), for $783m. The company announced this on Thursday in a statement by its Chief Compliance Officer and Company Secretary, Ayotola Jagun. The deal sees Oando, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, take ownership of 100 percent of the shareholding interest in NAOC from Italian energy company, Eni. For Oando, a leading energy solutions provider in Nigeria, the acquisition “is a significant milestone” in its long-term strategy to expand its upstream operations and strengthen its position in the Nigerian oil and…
President Bola Tinubu on Friday administered oath of office on Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), pending her confirmation by the Senate. The swearing-in of the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second female justice to hold the office took place at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. In his remarks, President Tinubu urged the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria to defend the independence of the judiciary and promote the cause of justice. The President emphasized the importance of strengthening mechanisms that will uphold and enhance integrity, discipline, and transparency in the…
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is one of the top female Justices in the nation’s apex court. The 66-year-old jurist was born on May 7, 1958. She bagged her law degree from University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1981. She thereafter proceeded to the London School of Economic and Political Science to obtain an LL.M. in November 1983. Justice Kekere-Ekun’s legal career started in Lagos as a private lawyer from 1985 to 1989. In December 1989, she was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary. She later became a Judge of the High Court of…