Encomium
1. POLICE SERGEANT KILLED AS IPOB MEMBERS CLASH WITH MUSLIMS IN RIVERS
A Police sergeant has been killed in an encounter between suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and members of the Muslim community in Rivers state.
Reason for the attack on Muslim faithful in Oyibo Local Government Area of the state remains unclear, but eyewitnesses say the Biafrans made several attempts to burn the central mosque in the area.
Rivers State police commissioner, Zaki Ahmed said the dead officer was part of the team deployed to the area in the wake of the crisis.
He also confirmed that the attack left scores injured.
2. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ON FRIDAY – NNAMDI KANU
The IPOB leader therefore, backed out of the mediation between his group and the South-East Governors.
He also stated that the leadership of IPOB through the instrumentality of the Directorate of State (DOS) headquartered in Germany, will be meeting to vote on the viability of continuing the struggle in this non-violent manner on Friday.
3. LABOUR DECLARES STRIKE FRIDAY
The United Labour Congress, ULC, has announced that it will embark on a nationwide strike on Friday if the federal government doesn’t meet its demands.
According to ULC president Joe Ajaero in a statement, the strike will cripple economic activities in the country.
He urged Nigerians to stock up on foodstuff and other basic amenities.
“We regret these consequences on all of us, but we hope that these measures will help us create a nation that is better governed for the benefits of Nigerian workers and Nigerian masses.” He said.
4. NIGERIA’S RESIDENT DOCTORS SUSPEND NATIONWIDE STRIKE
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its nationwide strike.
Speaking in the early hours of today, Thursday, after a meeting, NARD Chairman, UCH, Ibadan chapter, Segun Olaopa, said the body suspended the strike because of the public.
“The decision was reached following appeals from the public that the doctors should give the federal government more time to meet their demands,” Olaopa said.
It would be recalled that the doctors commenced nationwide strike on September 4, 2017.
5. EFCC SEEKING TO EXTRADITE DIEZANI TO NIGERIA TO ANSWER CORRUPTION ALLEGATION
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has confirmed reports that it is planning to extradite Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to the country to be tried for corruption.
He added that all Nigerians must play their roles, “because EFCC can only do its best; but we must support the agency, and the law should take its course, policies should be strengthened, and punishment must be meted out in good time.”
6. NIGERIA POLICE REVEAL CAUSE OF ENUGU MARKET EXPLOSION
The spokesperson of Enugu State Police Command, SP Ebere Amaraizu, has revealed that the cause of the heavy explosion that occurred at the New Artisan Market in the state was as a result of battery spark.
Amaraizu made this known in a statement he made in Enugu, Wednesday.
The explosion occurred late Monday night, and the State Police Command had dispatched its Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) to the site for investigations into the cause.
7. MELAYE APPEALS AGAINST JUDGMENT IN RECALL PROCESS
Senator Dino Melaye has filed an appeal in Abuja challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court ruling, that his recall process should go ahead.
His Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome argues that the Judge erred in law, when he ruled as valid, the petition presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission, for Melaye’s recall.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had in his judgment, allowed INEC to proceed with the exercise of verifying the almost 189,000 signatories, who were said to have signed in support of the recall process.
8. FG ORDERS FORENSIC PROBE INTO JAMB AS BODY REMITS N8 BN IN 2017
The federal government ordered forensic probe into the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and some government agencies.
The exercise is to recover unremitted revenues, according to Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
She said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had been remitting N3 million annually, remitted N5 billion this year alone and disclosed that it had N3 billion more to remit to the government’s purse this year.
She added it is a similar story with other agencies and these are the leakages which we are now blocking.
9. LAI MOHAMMED ELECTED AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF WORLD TOURISM BODY
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on Wednesday elected Nigeria as vice-president, Africa at its ongoing 22nd general assembly in Chengdu, China.
It was reported that Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the general assembly, assumed the seat on behalf of the country for the next two years.
Reacting to his election, Mohammed said the last time Nigeria occupied the position of UNWTO vice-presidency was 20 years ago and the position would propel him to do more in the development of the nation’s tourism and creative industry.
10. ABIA STATE GOVERNOR IKPEAZU EXTENDS ABA CURFEW TILL FRIDAY
The curfew imposed on Aba, the commercial hub of Abia state has been extended by one day, and will now be lifted on Friday.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says residents and visitors in the state need to co-operate with security agents to ensure a continued maintenance of the law and order within the city.
He however says he is displeased about reports that people were being compelled to raise their hands while passing through security checkpoints.
He asked security agents to ensure that such forms of barbaric treatment, be discontinued.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has said that the siren of military convoys and armoured vehicles occupying the entire region is not only designed to intimidate the people but also deliberately primed to scuttle the IPOB/South-East governors meeting of Friday 15th September
