High Street

Tragedy struck on Ugiagbe Street, off First Ugbor Road, in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, when a middle-aged major in the Nigerian Army, Afisatu Ajuya, was allegedly murdered by her security guard and eight others. It was gathered that Ajuya, who was serving in one of the South-South states, had returned from a journey at about 9.30pm on Saturday when she was received by her guard, said to be of Hausa extraction. The guard was reported to have offered her assistance with her luggage before descending on the victim. It was learnt that the guard was immediately joined by eight others, who allegedly stabbed her with metal objects. It was gathered that the suspects later took their victim into her apartment where they strangled her. Our correspondents were told that they poured petrol on her corpse and set it ablaze before stealing some of her valuables, including three laptops, cash and jewellery. PUNCH Metro gathered that the guard later raised the alarm, claiming that ...

A former governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, on Monday cancelled his controversial plan to visit Kano on Tuesday (today). The controversy started when the state Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, on January 27 advised Kwankwaso to shelve the visit, saying that a security report had indicated that the visit might lead to political unrest. Kwankwaso, who responded through his spokesperson, Binta Sipikin, vowed to go ahead with the visit in spite of the police advice. Sipikin had said, “We are coming to visit friends, families and other relatives that for a long time we have not seen. We have coordinated this visit with seven camera drones and other apparatus that would make it a hitch-free homecoming.’’ But Kwankwaso cancelled the visit at an emergency press conference at the Lugard House, Kano, addressed on his behalf by a former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi. Bichi said Kwankwaso cancelled the visit to give the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Gan...

The aspirant who insists he has divine mandate to become the next governor of Ogun state, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo has revealed that he is far better than all others seeking the same position put together. And he provides reasons in an exclusive chat with highstreet . BMO (the initials of his title, first and surnames) asserted that his, is a long-term ambition of keen preparation. "Most of them just embraced the ambition to become governor, I have had it for as far back as when I was kid" he stated and insisted that aside having the "divine mandate", he has been planning to occupy the position for years and already has a master plan of how he intends to turn the state around. Oladipo has over 30years active involvement in politics and governance in Ogun state under his belt. He was the speaker of the Ogun state House of Assembly during the tenure of Aremo Olusegun Osoba as the Governor of the state. And almost became the running mate of Osoba be...

After all political permutations, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, on Friday formally opened up and rejected the proposal by the Federal Government for cattle colonies. He also described as “false, malicious and highly mischievous”, reports in the social media that he had carved out parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas for the creation of cattle colonies. Lalong is said to be a strong ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and had has never criticised his government or any of his wrong policies. Political pundits say his support for the President was a ploy to get favour and give him automatic ticket for reelection in the 2019 governorship election. Lalong in a Government House statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang, advised all peace-loving citizens of Plateau State to “discountenance such mischievous information” and gravitate towards issues of unity, rather than those that divide them. The statement reads: “The atte...

A frontline gubernatorial aspirant in the upcoming gubernatorial election in the State of Osun, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke popularly addressed K-RAD, has called on the good people of the State of who are of voting age to come out on Saturday and vote for the candidates of All Progressives Congress(APC) in the Local Government elections. In a statement released by his media office in Osogbo and personally signed by him, Kunle Adegoke urged the people of the state to come out as a matter of duty and vote for the candidates of the APC in the polls as a mark of honour and respect for the party which has in the last seven years given good and progressive governance to them in terms of infrastructure and other social economic developments. “Let me use this medium to call on our people in the State of Osun who are of voting age to come out en masse and vote for all the Councillorship candidates of APC on Saturday. This is going to be an honour to our great party, APC, having delivered on it...

The Chairman of IRS Group, Alhaji Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu and a legal-based practitioner/civil society activist, Mrs. Ayo Obe have disowned their alleged membership of the Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM) Party - a party formed by some Nigerian political and human rights activists with an aim to partake in the 2019 general elections. In their separate statements made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu and Mrs. Ayo Obe said they never attended any meeting of NIM and were never contacted before they were allegedly appointed into any position with NIM. Isyaku Rabiu Chairman of IRS described the information that he was the Deputy National Chairman of NIM as misleading and a misrepresentation of his position regarding political activities in the country. He further explained that the publication and sad appointment were done in error as his nonpartisan status on general political activities in the country fuses with his vision to build bridges of love, understanding, pe...

Keystone Bank Limited has denied having in its custody any illegally hidden money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies. Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial district had accused the bank of colluding with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to conceal about $137 million and thereafter illegally withdrew $4 million. But Keystone Bank, in a statement by the General Counsel & Company Secretary, Dr. Michael Agamah on Tuesday said, “We wish to state categorically that Keystone Bank Limited has never illegally hidden or withdrawn any amount of money belonging to the Federal Government or any of its agencies.” “Details of all Federal Government funds in custody of Keystone Bank had always been fully disclosed to all relevant Federal Government agencies and at no time did Keystone Bank collude or ‎conspire with any official of the Federal Government to disobey the Federal Government directives on the TSA.” The statement al...

A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher, has died. Mr. Musdapher died in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 75. The cause of his death was not immediately clear but family members took to social media to break the news. “My elder brother Justice Dahiru Musdapher former CJN passed on tonight,” Muneer Musdapher, a younger brother of the former CJN wrote on Facebook. The jurist retired from bench five years ago on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70. Almost a year to his retirement, he was appointed CJN by then President Goodluck Jonathan, upon the exit of Justice Alysious Katsina-Alu. He was succeeded by Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar in 2012. Mr. Musdapher was educated at the Ahmadu Bello University and the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1968. He began his legal practice as one of the early private legal practitioners in northern Nigeria. In 1976 he was app...

Another moment of excitement is around the corner for more Skye Bank customers to reach for the Sky and achieve their dreams, as the bank’s ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire’ reward promo train moves to Benin, Edo State.  Both new and old customers stand a chance to win N1million naira and other monetary rewards at the next draw which will take place February 1, 2018. Another millionaire will emerge through a transparent electronic draw projected on a mega screen, for members of the public and market leaders to be active participants in drawing the winning account numbers. A chance to win various cash prizes including N100, 000 for 10 customers, N50, 000 for another 10 customers and N20, 000 for 20 loyal customers exists every month throughout the period of the scheme. Gift items such as table top fridge, generator, table top gas cookers, mobile phones, blenders, recharge cards and table top gas cookers are also available to be won. Since it was introduced, the Skye Bank ‘Rea...

An Oyo State High Court presided over by Justice Olajumoke Aiki on Friday declared the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadan land by the Justice Akintunde Boade Review Commission, which was set up by the Oyo State Government, as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect. The commission had recommended, among others, the creation of several monarchs in Ibadan which led to the installation of 21 kings by the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi. But the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja, challenged the composition and recommendations of the commission in court, joining Ajimobi as co-defendant. While delivering judgment, Aiki held that wearing of beaded crowns is beyond the purview of sections 10, 12 and 25 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law, stating that Section 25 of the Chiefs Law could not be treated in isolation to the provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws. The court also said provisions of Parts Two a...

He never knew that so large a fortune could have so short a lease. When he did, he had been mowed to rubble by the wheels of vanity. As you read, the truth dawns on Walter Wagbatsoma, the owner of Ontario Oil an Gas Limited, making him understand that fortune and status are nothing but mirage. That is why too many people engage in desperate pursuit of it and end up in a shameful form. This tragic transformation applies to Walter. Just some few years ago, Walter was a very big boy, commanding big and very lucrative businesses deals from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Back then, he enjoyed an illustrious and highly rewarding business and personal relationship with Diezani Alison-Madueke. Walter however, incurred the wrath of his very good friend, Diezani, in a very personal and acrimonious spat that left the duo estranged after what was termed in social ciruits, as a highly rewarding friendship. Following their estrangement from each other, Walter became the subje...

The Senate has given the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, 14 days ultimatum to arrest and investigate the perpetrators of Benue killings. This position was a sequel to the consideration of a report of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria. The committee had on Friday visited Benue to ascertain the level of killings in the state. The report was presented by Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, during plenary on Tuesday. He said the recommendations of the committee included reexamining, revamping and reinventing the nation’s security architecture and infrastructure in order to ensure that no community or entity was left unsecured and unsafe. Lawan, who is also the Senate Leader, said other recommendations are for the Senate to convene, as a matter of utmost urgency, a national security summit. He said the committee recommended that government should examine the recurring violence and mayhem visited on rural co...

A secondary school student, Sopuruchukwu Onuoha, was on Monday arrested by operatives of the Owerri Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly raping his neighbour (names withheld). But the18-year-old, who hails from Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Mbaise Council Area of the state, denied the rape allegation. However, the victim, who spoke to Southern City News on Tuesday, insisted that she was raped by Onuoha, who was her next-door neighbour. She said the incident happened after her parents had gone to work. She said, “We live at No. 5, Rotibi Street in Owerri in a two-storeyed building. We live on the first floor while Onuoha and his parents live on the second floor. “However, my dad called me to bring mobile phone charger to him on the ground floor, but little did I know that Onuoha heard it. He entered and hid himself in our flat.  “After giving the charger to my daddy and returned to our flat, Onuoha held me from the back, used his cloth to cover my mouth and forced himself...

Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has won the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election. The election took place in seven local government areas of Anambra: Njikoka, Awka North, Idemili South, Dunukofia, Awka South, Anaocha and Idemili North. APGA won in the seven council areas in the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) early Sunday morning. The result showed that in Njikoka, APGA got 11, 506 votes while All Progressive Congress (APC) got 158. In Awka North, APGA and APC scored 7,572 and 81 votes respectively while in Idemili South, APGA garnered 4,647 votes against APC’s 104 votes. Also in Dunukofia APGA scored 7, 307 votes while the APC got 124. APGA also swept Awka South with 12,384 votes against its closest rival APC which got 231 votes, while in Anaocha council area, APGA and APC got 12, 245 votes and 120 votes respectively. In Idemili North, APGA won with 9,218 votes. Victor Umeh Announcing the result, Prof. Char...

No fewer than six members of Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya groups were on Sunday injured in Kano following a clash between the two political groups. Kwankwasiyya are supporters of the former governor, Musa Kwankwaso, while Gandujiyya are supporters of the incumbent governor, Umar Ganduje. Both men, though members of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, are bitter rivals; each seeking control of the party in the state. Efforts by the APC leadership including President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the crisis between erstwhile political allies have failed. An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano on Sunday that the incident occurred around 11 a.m. at Chiranchi quarters in Gwale Local Government Area of the state. According to the witness, some members of the two groups were at the area to attend two separate wedding fatiha when the incident happened. “The Kwankwasiyya followers attended one and their counterpart of Gandujiyya attended another wedding ceremony. “The one a...

Gas tanks at the Second Coming gas station in the Magodo area of Lagos exploded on Monday resulting in an inferno. At least 10 persons died in the inferno, according to Channels Television. The inferno, which was triggered by a spark from a car at the station, has already spread to surrounding buildings. The gas plant is located on CMD Road, opposite Magodo Brooks Estate. Operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) are currently at the scene. Bisi Kazeem, FRSC spokesman, has advised motorists to take alternative routes, saying the extent of damage is unknown at the moment. Source: cable

A teacher at the Ijagba Community High School, Sotubo, Sagamu, Segun Durojaiye, has been apprehended for alleged serial rape of his daughter. The 52-year-old father was held along with his brother, Emmanuel Durojaiye, for the offence. The victim lived with her father on Baba-Benja Street, Oreyo, Igbogbo Ikorodu. PUNCH Metro learnt that Segun took the victim into custody after her mother died when she was an infant. He and his second wife were said to be taking care of the girl until sometime in 2014 when the stepmother died and the victim relocated to Abuja to live with a relative. Segun reportedly asked the victim to return home after a few months and started having sex with her, with a threat that she must not reveal the act to anyone. It was gathered that the victim had visited her uncle, 42-year-old Emmanuel, in his apartment on Durojaiye Street in Oreyo one day when he also allegedly raped her. Emmanuel was said to have subsequently subject...

Sen. Stella Oduah on Monday described as untrue a report that she was planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Grand Alliance. The lawmaker, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, said in Abuja on Monday that the story credited to an online medium was based on mere speculation that was false. Oduah said those spreading the falsehood were probably taking advantage of her grievances with the party in the build-up to the 2017 Anambra governorship election. “It is untrue, there is nothing like that; I am still a full member of the PDP. “This is mere speculation probably because of my anger during the last governorship election. “I am still a full member of our great party, the PDP; if I want to leave a party I will make it public myself,” she said. She urged politicians to refrain from attempting to score cheap points by giving false information about other political actors. (NAN)