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  The Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Imo State government has taken over all the hotel rooms in Owerri, the state capital from November 4 to November 12, 2023 as the state goes into governorship election on November 11. The taking over of all the hotel rooms in the state capital no matter the quality, sizes, prices and locations, was announced in a letter dated October 25, 2023, signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Barrister Jerry Egbule Egemba, and sent to all the General Managers of hotels in Owerri. “ I wish to refer to the above subject and inform you that the Ministry of Tourism intends to rent and occupy all the rooms in your hotel no matter the size and classification from Saturday 4th November to Saturday 12th November 2023 at your usual cost per room for full occupation. “I therefore request you to submit to my office before 12 noon tomorrow Thursday 26th October, 2023 details of your accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for settlement. “Your urgent coopera

  Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says 50 decomposing corpses, including 20 headless ones, as well as countless skeletons were discovered by security operatives during a raid of the forest around the Lokpanta Cattle Market in the Umunneochi axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. According to the governor, it was also discovered that the cattle market was being used by kidnappers as ransom-collection point. Otti made the revelation on Sunday during the second edition of his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital. He vowed that no inch of the state land mass would be left to criminals in line with his administration’s commitment to protect the lives and property of residents and visitors to the state. He insisted that the resolve of the state to make the cattle market a daily market was not targeted at any particular tribe in the country, rather it was aimed at revamping the security architecture of the market and its host community. He said, “We have taken a stand to prov

  The parents of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz have been kidnapped in their native Colombia, with his mother already released. News outlets in Colombia have reported that on Saturday afternoon (local time), Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda were stopped by kidnappers when heading towards their home neighbourhood of Los Olivos in the town of Barrancas - where the Liverpool player is from. Semana reported that armed men riding motorcycles intercepted their vehicle. However, another version of events claimed Diaz's parents were watching a game when kidnappers arrived and took them away. Colonel Geovanni Cristancho, director of the Gaula branch of the Colombian police that handles kidnap extortion and hostage rescue, was immediately sent to take charge of the situation. It was reported that military and police also joined forces and began carrying out coordinated operations in a bid to find the parents. Police checkpoints for identifying those travelling on motorcycles in the area w

  The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has said it will mobilize its members to storm Imo State on Wednesday, November 1. Briefing journalists at the Labour House on Sunday in Abuja, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused the Imo State Government of violating the rights of the Nigerian workers in the state. Accusing Governor Hope Uzodinma of neglecting workers’ welfare, Ajaero lamented that many of them have died because of the alleged lack of payment of their salaries. He outlined some of the infractions against workers by the Imo State Governor including the alleged refusal to implement previous agreements especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears of about 20 months, unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers, declaration of pensioners as ghost workers and unsettled gratuity arrears among others. According to him, approximately 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labelled as ghost pensioners resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions while about 1

  Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has challenged the leaders in Owerri Zone to unite and forge a common front to enable them succeed him in 2027 when he would have served out his second term in office. The governor reiterated his determination to hand over to Owerri Zone at the end of his second tenure in 2027 based on the Imo Charter of Equity and overwhelming support his administration has got from the zone for his re-election. Uzodinma gave the assurance at the Owerri Zone youth and women endorsement rally held at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, New Owerri, on Friday, October 27, 2023. He recalled that the Imo Charter of Equity is for unity, peace and fairness to all the zones and that he will use his office and political networks to implement it. The governor urged the zone to unite for peace, to attract local and foreign direct investments to the area, noting that “unity will bring prosperity, cure poverty, provide jobs that will engage the youths and reduce violence in the

  National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has approved the termination of appointment of some of the presidential campaign assistants of Peter Obi after the Thursday’s Supreme Court verdict went against his party. In a termination letter signed by the National Secretary of the party, Malam Umar Farouk, Abure said all appointments related to elections and campaigns had been formally dissolved. The effected appointees include: Mr. Mandela Ukegbu, Chairman, Labour Party Presidential Campaign Committee on Special Duties; Engineer Balami Isaac David, Senior Special Assistant on Presidential Campaign, Fund Raising and Grassroot Mobilization; Didacus Joe-Adigwe, Senior Special Adviser on Strategy, Protocol and International Relations; Princess Ajibola, Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Mobilization and Isaac Imasuagbon, Senior Special Assistant on ICT,” Farouk said. He wished them well in their future engagements. The party had rejected the declaration of President B

  Finnish telecom giant Nokia said Thursday it could cut its workforce by as many as 14,000 people after it reported lower-than-expected third-quarter profits. “ In the third quarter we saw an increased impact on our business from the macroeconomic challenges,” CEO Pekka Lundmark said in a statement. Nokia’s savings programme is expected to reduce the firm’s employees to as low as 72,000, reducing costs by up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.14 billion) by 2026, the company said. The programme targets business areas Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services and corporate functions. Nokia reported that its profits reached 133 million euros in the third quarter, a 69 percent drop from the same period a year ago. “ The earnings were much weaker than expected and the outlook is more uncertain. So it’s not looking that good in the short term for Nokia,” Atte Riikola, an analyst at equity analysis firm Inderes said. The telecommunications equipment maker, which is locked in a battle for 5G network

  Popular Nollywood actor, Bolanle Ninalowo, has stated that his crashed marriage with his estranged wife, Bunmi, was never a mistake, rather, a blessing. It was gathered that Bolanle Ninalowo had in September announced his divorce from his wife, Bunmi. In a post on his Instagram page, the actor said: “My wife and I have decided to go our separate ways and headed for an irreconcilable marriage dissolution.” However, speaking in his latest interview with the newsmen, Bolanle Ninalowo expressed his perception about his failed marriage. Regarding his current relationship status, he said: “I am a special kind of person, I am anointed, graceful, and very spiritual. My ex-wife was not a mistake in my life, it was divine and the next woman I will meet will also be divine. “ You cannot have a destination without a journey, and I am journeying through life. I’m not interested in any woman but when I see the woman, I will know.”

  The police in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have arrested a suspect, Okoligwe Damian, over the alleged killing of a 300-level student of Biochemistry at the University of Port Harcourt, Justina Nkang. Damian, a 400-level student of Petrochemical Engineering at the same university is believed to have been the deceased’s boyfriend. 20-year-old Justina was found dead in the home of Damian. The deceased had been declared missing four days ago. According to the state Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Emeka, an unidentified neighbour of the suspect called the attention of the police when he observed a foul smell oozing from the suspect’s apartment. On arrival, the door was forced open and the dismembered remains of Justina were discovered in a Ghana-must-go bag. Speaking to the press Damian claimed to have been unaware of his girlfriend’s death saying, “I slept in the parlour while she slept in the room and when I woke up I found her dead.” When pressed on why he failed to report t

  The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25, 2023 presidential election. The apex court, in its ruling, dismissed the appeals by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi. A seven-judge panel ruled as without merit the opposition appeals over claims of fraud, electoral law violations, and Tinubu’s ineligibility to run for president. The apex court thrashed all the grounds of appeal of Atiku and the PDP on qualification, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, the 25% votes in FCT, and electoral malpractices. “ On the whole, having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is my view that there is no merit in the appeal and it is hereby dismissed,” Justice Inyang Okoro said in dismissing Atiku’s appeal. “ The judgment of the court below delivered on September 6 ,  2023 affirming the election of the second respondent (Tinubu) as the duly elect

Mrs Abosede Aloba, the mother of deceased singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly known as Mohbad, on Wednesday told a coroner’s court that her relationship with the late singer was not cordial for a long time. Abosede said that the soured relationship was because Mohbad’s father, Joseph, took him away and instructed him not to contact her. She, however, told the Coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, that she began to relate better with him in 2019. She testified during a coroner’s inquest into the death of his son. The musician died on September 12 and was buried the following day. His death has been generating controversies, prompting the Lagos State Government to direct a coroner’s inquest into the death. The inquest, which began on October 13, is taking place at the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State. Abosede that she and Joseph went to the residence of singer Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley to ask him why he had been having a dispute with Mohbad. “I asked M

  The immediate-past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdurasheed Bawa, has been released five months after detention. It was gathered that the former anti-corruption czar was released on Wednesday night. Recall that Bawa was arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) on June 14, 2023, hours after his suspension from office as EFCC Chairman by President Bola Tinubu over alleged abuse of office. Since his arrest and detention, the secret police didn’t formally prefer any charge against him or say his specific offence. Meanwhile, on October 12, Tinubu appointed Olanipekun Olukoyede as the EFCC Chairman. The Senate confirmed Olukoyede’s appointment on October 18, 2023.

  In a move reminiscent of Afrobeats sensation Tekno, renowned Nigerian singer, Tiwatope Omolara Savage popularly known as Tiwa Savage is facing the prospect of an extended hiatus from the music scene. Tiwa Savage had announced a temporary departure from music due to a virus infection that has taken a toll on her vocal cords. The acclaimed artiste has decided to step away from the limelight for an indefinite period, citing the adverse impact of the throat infection on her vocal abilities. This development bears a resemblance to the situation faced by Tekno, who was forced to take a two-year break from music due to a similar vocal cord ailment before his recent comeback. With many of her fans hopeful for her swift recovery and a return to the music stage, others simply expressed concerns that the development may keep her away from music for more than a year. It was gathered that Tiwa Savage’s temporary departure from music carries financial consequences. The artiste had been booked for

The tearing of political banners has started by suspected political thugs in Imo state. It was gathered in Owerri on Tuesday that where some streets that have banners of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were torn to pieces. However, it should be recalled that the ruling APC, imposed a heavy fee on other opposition political parties to the tune of N54 million in order to allow them to mount their political banners for the governorship rally. However, this did not go down well with the opposition political parties who refused to pay. As a result, almost in every part of the state hardly you see banners of the opposition parties. Major streets of Douglas, Wetheral, Egbu, MCC/Uratta, Orji, Owerri-Port Harcourt road, World bank, Amakohia, Akwakuma among others were covered with only Governor Hope Uzodinma’s political banners. In these areas mentioned it could be sited that some Uzodinma’s banners have been teared down by suspected angry residents. Trouble is said to be brewing, a

  The Supreme Court on Monday, reserved judgement in the appeals by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his party against the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which dismissed their petitions challenging the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election. The seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court, headed by Justice Inyang Okoro reserved judgement in the appeals to a date that would be communicated to parties after adoption of the processes filed in the matter. When the appeal was called, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), representing Atiku and his party, informed the court of an interlocutory application seeking the leave of the court to present fresh evidence in the appeal. The fresh evidence Atiku sought to tender are the academic records of Tinubu, which were handed over to him by the Chicago

  A Christian cleric of the United Methodist Church identified as Oscar Mukahanana reportedly committed suicide following the leakage of his adultery scandal on the church’s WhatsApp group. The cleric who was a Reverend at the Harare East District Superintendent in Zimbabwe, engaged in an extra-marital affair with a female youth in the church. There were reports that the audio of his secret sexual engagement with the said lady leaked on the WhatsApp group of the church. He talked about how his wild excitement after meeting the lady adding that he had a good session before her menstrual cycle. After the audio leaked on the WhatsApp group, Mukahanana’s church members started sharing the leaked conversation making him an object of mockery. Local media said they even created memes, ridiculing the District Superintendent over the adultery scandal. Mukahanana who felt humiliated and embarrassed over the matter then committed suicide on Friday when he could not withstand the shame. The UMC Ha