Encomium
1. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY GETS 7 NEW PERMANENT SECRETARIES
The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) on Tuesday announced the appointment of seven new permanent secretaries. This is contained in a statement by Bullah Bi-Allah, on behalf of the Director, Information. They are Clerk of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir and Mr. Giwa Ahonkahi, Deputy Clerk of the House (legislative).
Others are Mrs Muhammed Aishatu, Deputy Clerk of the House (administrative) and Mr Ojo Amos, Secretary Procurement, Estate and Works Department.
Dibai Adamu, Secretary Research and Information; Mahmud Abubakar, Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development Directorate and Mrs Patience Iku, Deputy Clerk, Senate (administration).
2. MASSIVE SHAKEUP AT NNPC: 55 SENIOR OFFICERS AFFECTED
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNCP, on Tuesday effected a massive shakeup in its work force leaving no fewer than 55 top management staff either appointed or redeployed across the company’s operations nationwide.
According to the Group Managing Director, GMD of the Corporation, Maikanti Baru, the new appointments would not only help reposition the NNPC for the challenges ahead, but would also help to fill the gaps created due to statutory retirements of staff.
Under the new arrangement, Mr. Baru said a former Managing Director of the Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL, Roland Ewubare, has been appointed the new Group General Manager, GGM, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS while a former MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, Adewale Ladenegan, was moved to KRPC to assume duty as MD among others.
3. BULLION VAN FILLED WITH CASH EXPLODES IN LAGOS
A bullion van filled with cash on Tuesday afternoon exploded under the Ojota bridge in Lagos state.
According to reports, the van was heading towards Toll Gate to disburse cash to some banks. Though the exact cause of the explosion are yet to be known but an eye witness , Mrs Moji Maitani , said : “ I was driving home when all of a sudden the vehicle directly in front of me veered to another lane. I quickly applied the break to avoid what the motorist attempted to dodge, only to discover that a vehicle was on fire.
Some eye witnesses said the money inside the van was completely burnt as escorts could not go near the van because of the flames, meanwhile, others said that some cash was evacuated before the van was engulfed by fire.
4. ALLEGED BILLIONAIRE KIDNAPPER ‘EVANS’ PLEADS GUILTY IN COURT
Alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, today pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping. Report has that Evans pleaded guilty after he and five others were arraigned before a judge of the Ikeja High Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.
The judge ordered that all the male defendants be remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prison while the female defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, be kept at the Kirikiri Female Prison. The case was adjourned till October 19.
5. BUHARI WADES INTO ASUU STRIKE
President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive Council will, at its meeting on today decide on the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who revealed this in an interview on Tuesday, said the university lecturers had deliberated on the offers made to them by the government at a meeting on August 17.
Also, the union, in a statement on Tuesday, said it would call off its strike after receiving a positive response to its demands from the Federal Government and that it had considered offers made by the government and made its counter-offer.
The minister said the Federal Government would deliberate on the union’s counter-offer today at the Federal Executive Council meeting.
6. RIVERS DPO ARRESTED OVER ESCAPE OF RITUALIST
A Divisional Police Officer in Rivers State has been arrested on the orders of the State Police Command for his alleged involvement in the escape of one Ifeanyi Dike, who killed an eight-year-old for alleged money ritual.
A reliable police source disclosed that the DPO, who was arrested on Monday, was deeply involved in telephone calls between him and Johnbosco Okoroeze, a dismissed police sergeant, which indicated that there was a planned action by him to allow the suspected ritual killer to escape.
It was gathered that while preparations were ongoing by both the father of the deceased, Dr. Ernest Nmezuwuba, and the suspect (Dike) to write their statements, several calls were received from the said DPO by Okoroeze.
7. COURT REFUSES TO REDUCE SHANGISHA EX-BAALE’S BAIL TERM
A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Tuesday dismissed an application brought before it by an ex-Baale of Shangisha , Chief Mutiu Ogundare, urging the court to reduce his bail condition.
Ogundare , who was arraigned along with his wife, Abolanle , and his brother, Mohammed Babatunde, for staging his kidnap , has been in the Kirikiri Prison due to his inability to fulfil the bail term granted him and his relations by an Ogba Magistrate’ s Court .
At the Tuesday ’ s proceedings, Ogundare, who was represented by his counsel, Chief H. N . Ogirien, pleaded with the court to reduce some aspects of the bail conditions, especially the part where the deposed traditional ruler was asked to provide a level 17 officer in the state civil service .
8. PANIC AS THREE-STOREYED BUILDING COLLAPSES IN LAGOS
A three -storeyed building collapsed on Tuesday on Saka Okoro Street, Ilufe Road , Alaba International Market , Ojo , Lagos State. However, no life was lost or injury sustained in the incident , as most of the tenants were reported to have vacated it after they were served demolition notices .
The landlord, who was the only occupant, had stepped out of the building minutes before it collapsed.
The incident , which happened around 7am, reportedly created panic in the neighbourhood as residents fled in different directions.
Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and National Emergency Management Agency were said to have responded to distress calls over the collapse .
9. REMEMBER THE POOR DURING SALLAH, CLERIC TASKS MUSLIMS
An Islamic Cleric, Alhaji Mufutau Abdulrasaq has called on Muslims to remember those in need and provide succour to them during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. Abdulrasaq, who is the Chief Imam of Ore Olohun Mosque, Olunlade in Ilorin made the call on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 while speaking with journalist.
The Imam said Muslims must give out to the needy and avoid selfishness so as to earn bountiful reward from Allah. He also Abdulrasaq also charged Muslims not to discriminate against anybody in doing good and always pray for the country.
10. BUHARI HOSTS VICTORIOUS D’TIGRESS
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung has said that, President Muhammadu Buhari will today receive the victorious D’Tigress,
Dalung, who alongside top members of the sport ministry hosted the new African queens on Tuesday, dropped the hint that the president will meet with the Afrobasket winners before attending the weekly FEC meeting.
DTigress won all their matches at the competition and also qualified for the World Cup in Spain next year.
The Minister of sport Dalung attributed the recent successes recorded in basketball and wrestling to the ongoing sports reforms by the ministry.
The Minister commended the players and wrestlers for truly exemplifying the true Nigerian spirit which always thrives in the face of adversity.
