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https://www.nairaland.com/8258281/equatorial-guinea-sex-scandal-woman

In a recent crackdown on mobile data usage, the government of Equatorial Guinea has restricted citizens from downloading and sharing multimedia files through WhatsApp when using mobile data, News360 Nigeria reports.

This restriction follows the government’s directive to telecommunications operators to take measures against the spread of “inappropriate content.”

The move comes in the wake of a scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, who became embroiled in a controversy after a fraud investigation led authorities to his private recordings. During a search of Engonga’s home and office, officials uncovered over 400 videos allegedly showing the 54-year-old economist in intimate encounters with numerous high-profile individuals, including the wives of notable figures in government, police, and even the president’s family.

The videos, reportedly consensual and discovered in Engonga’s office, have since surfaced online, sparking a media storm across Equatorial Guinea. Those affected include prominent members of society, such as Engonga’s brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the president, the Director General of Police’s spouse, and the wives of at least 20 ministers.

The scandal has not only fueled public outrage but also impacted everyday communication. According to Ahora EG, a local news outlet, citizens are voicing frustration over being unable to send photos, videos, and audio files over mobile data on WhatsApp, forcing many to rely solely on WiFi for sharing such content.

Speaking with a source, the platform quoted a source as saying, “Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few? The likely decision to restrict access to essential communication functions seems disproportionate and punitive, affecting thousands of users of these platforms who, in addition to serving them for entertainment, also use them for their work and/or educational activities.

“In a world where digitalisation is becoming more and more important, should we shut down our platforms and paralyse our activities due to the actions of a few? Currently, users are forced to rely exclusively on WiFi connections, which not only limits their ability to communicate but also interferes with their daily activities.

“This situation has generated a heated debate among the population, where many believe that the measure seems to be more focused on controlling than facilitating communication,” the report added.

Ahora EG also quoted another querying, “Is it really fair that everyone should suffer the consequences of the actions of a few? The authorities have not yet provided any explanation for the reasons behind this restriction, as well as the duration of the same. At a time when information and communication are more vital than ever, the lack of transparency only aggravates citizens’ concerns.”

Earlier, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teddy Nguema, announced plans to install surveillance cameras in all state body offices.

This sweeping measure is part of an ongoing effort to ensure strict adherence to public service laws and combat misconduct among officials.

Source
Read more:
https://news360ng.com/equatorial-guinea-govt-restricts-whatsapp-amid-scandal-involving-top-official/

Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president-elect, will return to Abuja, Nigeria, today, Monday after spending weeks on vacation in France.


The former Lagos governor has been away from the country for nearly three weeks, which had led to speculations about his health.


However, Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for his campaign announced in a tweet on Monday, that he would back in the country today.

“Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu returns to Abuja today after weeks of a well deserved vacation in France. E kaabo! Se dada le de!” he wrote.

https://twitter.com/aonanuga1956/status/1650365680301010944?t=bSf5jKCS92r8VSD9RYxNlw&s=19


https://platinumtimes.ng/just-in-after-spending-weeks-in-france-tinubu-is-back-in-abuja-today/

Bola Tinubu, the President-Elect, has announced a 14-man Presidential Inauguration Committee comprising of eminent Nigerians to plan a week-long event that would usher him and his VP-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima in as the President and Vice-President of the country.


Tinubu, who is still abroad on vacation, in a letter to the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, announced Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as the Coordinator and Director of Finance and Budget of the committee.

Executive Director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export-Import, NEXIM, Bank, Stella Okotete will serve as the head of secretariat, planning and monitoring, while Mr Makinde Araoye, an ex-APC governorship aspirant in Ekiti State would serve as the director of venue, parades and swearing-in for the week-long event.

The APC Presidential Campaign Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga will serve as head of Media and Publicity, while former Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Health and current National Women Leader of the APC, Dr Betta Edu, will coordinate the medical team for the inauguration committee.

Also, Col. Abdulazeez Yar’Adua, the younger brother of late Nigeria’s President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, will act as the head of security and ceremonial parade.

Mrs Zainab Buba-Marwa, the wife of the Chairman, of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, General Buba Marwa, will coordinate the pre-inauguration dinner and gala night.

Other members of the committee are Samira Saddik (Children’s Day), Abuh Andrew Abuh (Accommodation), Dr Danladi Bako (Inaugural Lecture), Hajiya Hadiza Kabir (Transportation and Logistics), Donald Wokoma (Protocol and Invitation), Bishop Adegbite (Church Service), and Imam Faud (Jumat Service).

https://platinumtimes.ng/may-29-tinubu-announces-14-man-inauguration-committee/

Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, says the federal government is consulting with relevant agencies on how to evacuate Nigerian students in Sudan.

This is amid violent clashes between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, which have killed over 270 people.

Thousands of civilians have fled Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, with foreign nations making efforts to evacuate their citizens amid a sixth day of fierce fighting.

In a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, NIDCOM spokesperson, Dabiri-Erewa was quoted as saying she has noted with concern the plight of Nigerian students in Sudan.

She said the commission has received “the letter of solocitation” from the National Association of Nigerian Students in Sudan for possible evacuation, especially those in Khartoum.

Dabiri-Erewa assured that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is consulting with the Nigerian mission in Sudan and other relevant agencies.

She urged all Nigerian students in Sudan as well as Nigerians living in the country to be security conscious and remain calm.

https://platinumtimes.ng/nigerian-students-studying-in-sudan-would-be-evacuated-by-the-government-dabiri-erewa/

The currency in circulation in the country has increased by N701.4trn in one month to reach N1.6tn in March, 2023.

This comes after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reversed its policy on the naira redesign.

Police arrest Kwara PoS operator for lavishing N280m received in error
The currency in circulation in the country had dipped by a 235.03 per cent to N982.09bn at the end of February from N3.29tn at the end of October 2022, on the back of the naira redesign policy of the CBN.

Figures obtained from the CBN revealed that N2.3tn was mopped up from circulation during the period under review.

In a report by a research firm, Augusto&Co, titled ‘Redesign gone wrong? – Costly cashless’, while the policy was still on, it stated that, “How does the Central Bank retrieve 84.5 per cent of a country’s currency in circulation in just 90 days?

“This was one of the many questions seemingly begging for answers when Nigeria’s apex bank announced its plan to redesign the three higher value notes of the naira (N200, N500 and N1,000) on 25 October2022.”

A performance appraisal of the CBN’s execution of the redesign project would range from grossly unprepared to poorly perceived, it stated.

Speaking on the consequences during the implementation, Augusto&Co said, “Public outrage has degenerated to violent protests in some cities, with incidents of vandalism of several banks’ facilities – and PoS outlets.

“The cash crunch and the uncertainty surrounding the policy are fanning a long-simmering fire of public resentment, triggered by deteriorating economic conditions and recently exacerbated by unending petrol shortages.”

The hardest hit by the policy had been the most vulnerable members of the population (the poor, the unbanked and the rural dwellers), the report added.

It would be recalled that the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, had in October 2022, announced plans to redesign the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes.

The governor decried the challenges associated with currency management, including the hoarding of banknotes by members of the public, with statistics showing that over 80 per cent of currency-in-circulation was outside the vaults of commercial banks.

Due to hardships the policy subjected Nigerians to among others, some state governments sued the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy; the Supreme Court in its ruling on March 3 extended the legal tender status of the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes to December 31.

Ten days after the Supreme Court judgement, the CBN officially ordered commercial banks to comply with the court verdict, Punch reported.

https://platinumtimes.ng/according-to-cbn-the-amount-of-money-in-circulation-has-increased-by-71-to-n1-6tn/

Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved the R21 malaria vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at press briefing on Monday in Abuja.

This makes Nigeria the second country to approve the new malaria vaccine developed at the University of Oxford, after Ghana.

Prof Adeyeye said the vaccine is indicated for the prevention of clinical malaria in children from 5 months to 36 months of age.

She said the country expects to get at least 100,000 doses of the vaccine in donations soon before the market authorisation will start making other arrangements with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Adeyeye said “NAFDAC in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 is granting registration approval for R21 Malaria Vaccine (Recombinant, Adjuvanted) manufactured by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.

“The Marketing Authorization Holder is Fidson Healthcare Ltd in line with the Agency’s Drug and Related Products Registration Regulation 2021.

“The R21 Malaria vaccine is an adjuvanted protein vaccine presented as a sterile solution. A dose which is 0.5ml is composed of R21 Malaria antigen 5µg and Matrix-M1 50µg as an adjuvant filled in a vial as a ready-to-use liquid formulation for intramuscular injection.

“The vaccine is indicated for the prevention of clinical malaria in children from 5 months to 36 months of age. The storage temperature of the vaccine is 2-8 °C.”

She said the dossier of the vaccine was subjected to independent review at two levels.

She said the dossier was reviewed by NAFDAC’s Vaccine Advisory Committee independently using standards of the World Health Organisation across relevant domains, in addition to the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human use guidelines, European Medicines Agency guidelines, scientific rigour on the vaccine and the context of malaria and specifically to Nigeria and best research and manufacturing governance.

“NEVAC members reviewed all sections independently using best review practices and met physically in plenary to assess and debate the reviews by sections, raised queries, and made recommendations accordingly.

“Overall, the assessment was scored as adequate -fully compliant with standards, and the report was submitted to the Director General.

“The review of NAFDAC’s Committee has always been guided by the same international standards and best practices with the same modality of an independent review by members followed by long hours of plenary where a rigorous assessment of each review took place. The Committee also independently scored the assessment as satisfactory and forwarded it to the Director General.”

According to her, the R21 malaria vaccine dossier complied substantially with the best international standards with which the dossier was benched-marked.

She said the Joint Review Committee concluded that the data on the R21 Malaria vaccine were robust and met the criteria for efficacy, safety, and quality.

It was also adjudged that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks, thereby supporting the manufacturer’s recommended use.

“The Joint Review Committee recognised the importance of an effective malaria vaccine (with 75 per cent protection) as an additional interventional tool, as a critical need in Nigeria with the highest malaria burden.

“The Joint Review Committee also recommended additional phase four clinical trial, pharmacovigilance study in-country in the implementation given the peculiarity and heterogeneous nature of malaria in Nigeria.

“The Joint Review Committee was also interested in reviewing data of the human-malaria parasite dynamics of the 25 per cent not covered to understand issues bothering on non-protection that could inform further research.

“A provisional approval of the R21 Malaria Vaccine was recommended and this shall be done in line with the WHO’s Malaria Vaccine Implementation Guideline,” she noted.

https://platinumtimes.ng/nigeria-emerges-as-second-nation-to-approve-the-r21-malaria-vaccine/

Babajide Oba First-class traditional leader Lawrence Oluwole, the Oluoke of Oke-Igbo in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been removed from office.

The Kugbaigbe Ruling House, which would have produced the king to occupy the then-vacant stool of the town, was acknowledged by a State High Court sitting in Ondo city as not being a member, therefore invalidating the appointment of the monarch.

The appointment of the king by the state government had been contested in court by two princes from the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, Rufus Adekanye and Temitope Adeoye, who served as Head and Secretary of the House, respectively. The town's Kingmakers also joined the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs revealed that the defendant was not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, which in turn was to propose a candidate to the throne because the stool is still vacant, in the lawsuit filed by their attorney Olusola Ebiseni.

Oluwole was not a part of the ruling house that would eventually produce the monarch, as Justice Ademola Enikuemehin acknowledged in his decision.

In light of this, Enikuemehin issued an order stating that "the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State is subject to the Declaration in Part two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters and the Chiefs Law CAP 27 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State 2006."

He stated further that "Under the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, eligibility to the throne is restricted to the descendants of (1) Odo Eleyowo (2) Aare Kugbaigbe (3) Kuole Oloje (4) Aderin Ologbenla (5) Ajibike Adedimeji of the male linage who is thus constituted as the five Ruling Houses of the Chieftaincy.

Only members of the aforementioned Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House of the male linage are qualified to be proposed as the candidate(s) and be made an Oba at the turn of the Ruling House, according to and by virtue of the Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters.

It is the turn of the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House to offer candidate(s) to occupy the currently vacant stool of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy, according to the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters.

"The fifth defendant (Oba Oluwole), not being a descendant of the Aare Kugbaigbe, is not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House and, therefore, is not qualified under the declaration to be proposed as a candidate for the vacant stool of or be made the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo."

Additionally, the court issued an injunction prohibiting "the fifth defendant from further parading himself or permitting himself to be paraded as or accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to the person, title, and office of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo."

In it, the defendants were forbidden from "jointly and severally parading as or further according to the fifth defendant the recognition, rights and privileges, of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo."

https://platinumtimes.ng/ondo-court-dethrones-first-class-monarch/

The declared winner of the recently ended and nolified Adamawa governor election was shown on NTA delivering an acceptance speech shortly after the results were announced.

the video is below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wviv1otPHWg


https://platinumtimes.ng/video-moment-aisha-binani-gave-acceptance-speech-after-inec-nollified-declaration-of-winner/

The Labour Party (LP) has won the just-concluded Oji River State Constituency Supplementary Election, held on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

The election was held at Oji-River Central School Polling Unit, Registration Area/Ward 11, which had 2,489 registered voters.

INEC had declared and returned LP’s candidate, Osita Eze, winner of the supplementary election with 108 votes (at the supplementary election).

He also led other contestants with over 300 votes during the March 18 election.

Eze defeated the incumbent, Jeff Mba, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 118 votes (at the supplementary election).

Reacting, Dr Mcginger Ibeneme, Spokesperson, Labour Party, Enugu State, said that it was a hard-fought victory for Oji River people as well as the beginning of their total political emancipation.

Ibeneme said that the people of Oji River and by extension the good people of Enugu State had clearly affirmed that they want genuine change and people-centred representation that would carry everybody along.

“We were brutalised and were not allowed to even campaign for the supplementary election by thugs, even as I was singled out and brutalised during the supplementary election, yesterday, as some of the opposition saw me as the leader of the political tsunami in Oji River.

“Our people and supporters were also intimidated by some thugs and misguided security agents working for the PDP but they stood their ground and stuck out their necks waiting for the worst. But at last, Oji River people are liberated,” he said.

He said that the people of Oji River are currently celebrating the victory of Labour Party, the party of hope and genuine change, won in all five elections in the council area, starting from the President, Senate, House of Representative, Governorship and now State House of Assembly.

https://platinumtimes.ng/labour-party-triumphs-in-oji-river-state-constituency-supplementary-election/

Senator Athan Achonu has emerged as the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate for Imo State.

His victory followed the LP governorship primaries held in Owerri on Saturday.

While announcing the result of the exercise, the returning officer and Abia-State governor-elect Alex Otti said Achonu polled 134 votes to beat his closest rival Major General Jack Ogunewe who scored 121.

Senator Achonu was elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015 to represent Imo North on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

However, in December 2015, the Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital upturned his election at the instance of the candidate of the Accord Party that his party’s logo was not included in the ballot papers used for the 2015 National Assembly election. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Benjamin Uwajumogu was then declared the winner of the polls.

https://platinumtimes.ng/senator-achonu-wins-labour-party-nomination-in-imo/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) candidate, Murtala Muhammad Kadage, has been elected to represent Garko Local Government in the Kano State House of Assembly.

INEC Returning Officer, Professor Suleiman Mudi, of Bayero University Kano, announced him as the winner shortly after the re-run election held in three polling units across the local government area on Saturday.

“Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, I hereby declare Murtala Muhammad Kadage of the NNPP as the winner of the Garko Local Government state assembly election supplementary election,” Professor Mudi said.

The re-run polling units were canceled due to over-voting, which led to the initial cancellation of Kadage’s victory.

In the previous election, the INEC Returning Officer, Sani Safiyanu, declared Kadage Muhammad of the NNPP the winner with a differential margin of 3,782 votes between him and his closest rival, Abba Ibrahim of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the electoral umpire denied Kadage the certificate of return, claiming that supplementary elections must be held in three polling units, namely Sanni Gabas I of Katumari Ward with registered voters of 739, Kutunka Arewa III of Sarina Ward with 747, and Zangon Barkono I of Sarina Ward with 729, totaling to 2,215. This was less than the margin between the two candidates, which stood at 3,782 votes as declared initially.

Reacting to his victory, Kadage expressed gratitude to the people of Garko Local Government Area for their support and promised to work for their interests.

“I am grateful to the people of Garko Local Government for their support, and I promise to work for their interests,” he said.

Meanwhile, the APC has yet to react to the outcome of the election.

https://platinumtimes.ng/murtala-kadage-of-the-nnpp-wins-a-seat-in-the-garko-state-assembly-in-kano/

The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu (AMEN), Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has spoken about the date set aside for Bola Tinubu's swearing in.

Recall that if everything goes according to plan, Tinubu will be sworn in as President on May 29.


Reacting, Mbaka said if it is the will of God, Tinubu will be sworn in on May 29.

In a post on his church’s Facebook page on Wednesday, Mbaka stated that Nigerians came out in their numbers to cast their votes in the February 25 presidential election.

The fiery cleric noted that even though cases of ballot box snatching and other electoral malpractices were witnessed in the election, he appreciated God for seeing the country through the poll.

Mbaka, therefore, urged all Nigerians to pray for the nation, because he sees a New Nigeria coming where every citizen will rejoice and be blessed.

He wrote: “I want to make a recall on the just concluded presidential election. We have seen how the Nigerians turned out in their numbers to cast their votes.

“We have also seen how some ballot boxes were stolen in some polling units. Nevertheless, we appreciate God for thus far he has brought us. On this note, If It Is The Will Of God For Ahmed Bola Tinubu To Become Our President, Let It Be So.”

Mbaka added: “I want to urge us all to pray for our nation Nigeria. Because I See a New Nigeria coming. And every inhabitant will rejoice and be blessed.”

https://platinumtimes.ng/god-willing-tinubu-will-be-sworn-in-as-president-father-mbaka/

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its chairman, Mr. Philip Aivoji, and the deputy chairman, Mr. Tai Benedict over alleged gross violation of the party’s constitution.

Their suspension was effected by the Ward Executives of the party in Ward E of Badagry Local Government Area, and Ward J1 of Epe Local Government Area, of Lagos state respectively.

In a statement signed by the Executive members of Ward E, Badagry, and made available to the media on Thursday evening by the Ward Chairman, Jamiu Boglo, the State Chairman was suspended over anti-party activities.

He was alleged to have reached a pally with the Labour Party, LP on the eve of the March 18 guber election with financial involvement and directed PDP members in the state to vote for the LP via a message from his Special Adviser on media.

The suspended state chairman was also accused of misappropriation of funds received from the national body of the party as remittance from payments for the purchase of forms by aspirants from the state. This they claimed violates section 58 (1) D of the party constitution.

“Aivodji did not pay his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution in section 8 (9),” he said.

In a similar statement signed by the Executive members of Ward J1, Epe, and made available to the media by the Ward Secretary, simply identified as Mr.Teslim, the decision to suspend the state Deputy Chairman was reached after the leadership reviewed his conduct at the end of the recently concluded governorship election.

Benedict was also alleged to have been financially induced by the LP to direct PDP members in the state through phone calls and messages to vote against the candidates of PDP in the March 18 elections.

He along with the embattled state chairman of the party was also accused of false claims that the national leadership of the party directed them to carry out anti-party activities.

“They, (Benedict and Aivodji) also indicted the suspended National Chairman of our party Senator Iyorchia Ayu by claiming they got the directive from him.

“This act is in breach of 58(1)F of the Constitution of PDP 2017 (As amended),” Teslim stated.

https://platinumtimes.ng/lagos-pdp-suspends-state-chair-and-deputy-for-anti-party-behavior/

Billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola has emerged largest single individual shareholder in Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp), a publicly traded diversified conglomerate chaired by Mr. Tony Elumelu.

A top stockbroker at the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), disclosed to THISDAY that the billionaire now owns about 2.245 billion shares, representing 5.52per cent of the company.

According to the audited result and accounts for period ended December 31, 2022, Elumelu, who is the chairman of Transcrop Corporation owned 273,104,041 issued share capital in the diversified conglomerate.

He also held 293,983,193 shares indirectly through HH Capital Limited and 273,545,722 shares are held indirectly through Heirs Holdings Limited.

Dr. Stanley Lawson, a Non-Executive Director of Transcrop Corporation owned 122,790,102 direct issued share capital, while Mrs. Owen Omogiafo, the President had 12,634,188 interest in the diversified conglomerate.

The only other shareholder with over five per cent ownership of the company is UBA Nominees which owns about 9.25per cent of the company as of 2022 from 9.26 per cent reported in 2021.

“As at December 31, 2022, only UBA Nominees Limited-Trading, held five per cent or more of the issued and fully paid shares of 50 kobo of the Company,” according to the 2022 audited result and accounts posted on the NGX.

No other shareholder held above five per cent according to records. The company also has about 39.65 billion out of its 40.65 billion outstanding shares on a free float. In fact, 1,695 people own about 89per cent of the company’s shares.

Transcorp is currently controlled by billionaire investor, Elumelu who took over control of the company in 2012. Since then the company has gone on to acquire a power generation company and branched into the oil and gas sectors of the economy.

Femi Otedola also acquired significant control of FBN Holdings early last year when he announced he had acquired shareholdings above the five per cent threshold.

That also immediately triggered a bidding war for the stock. However, unlike FBN Holdings, Transcorp has a single majority shareholder with control of the company.

Otedola also owns close to 90per cent stake in Geregu Power Plc which it listed on the Exchange last year. It is unclear if the latest acquisition is aimed at doubling down his investment in the power sector.

Transnational Corporation released its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022, with N134.7billion revenue, an increase of 21 per cent from N111.2billion reported in 2021.

The group reported N30.3billion profit before tax in 2022, representing an increase of eight per cent from N27.9billion in 2021.

The Board of Directors of Transcrop Corporation had approved the payment of N2.03billion dividend (2021:N812.96million), being 5 kobo per share on the outstanding ordinary shares of 40,647,990,293 shares of 50 kobo each for the year ended December 31, 2022.

https://platinumtimes.ng/femi-otedola-becomes-transcorps-biggest-individual-shareholder/

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, has condemned last week’s reported detention of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, in Heathrow Airport, London over identity duplication, as a move by political enemies.

Ohanaeze said the plot to embarrass and pull down Peter Obi, because he had decided to legally pursue the mandate believed to have been given him by Nigerians, will continue to fail.

Obi was said to have been interrogated at Heathrow Airport, London, on April 7, over his identity.

Reacting to the development through its national publicity secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze said “the embarrassment and evil plots to rope Peter Obi will fail.”

He noted that, “It is very unfortunate for those who want to rope in Obi and embarrass him. However, it was good it happened. After this, there will not be such a thing again anywhere in the world as they have been exposed.

“They have exposed their plots to the whole world. But whoever is playing such is wasting time and energy.

“It is very clear to the world that the man is a man of integrity and law abiding, who had been pursuing his mandate legally. So, any plot to rope him I and embarrass him will continue to fail. They are being exposed.

“It is unfortunate that some Nigerians still want us back wards. But we will resist it, Nigerians will resist it, the youths will resist it because they want a future.”

https://platinumtimes.ng/plots-against-peter-obi-revealed-in-the-london-airport-incident-ohanaeze/

A seven-storey building under construction has collapsed in Banana Island, Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

The incident happened on Wednesday around past 3 pm.

It was gathered that building caved in when some of the construction workers on site had closed for the day.

Some of them were however injured as a result of the collapse.

The spokesperson for the Lagos Fire Service and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiri, confirmed the incident.

He said, “We got a call around 3:58 pm. We are currently trying to ascertain the claim that no one was under the rubble.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8U0QXGY1yo


https://platinumtimes.ng/as-a-seven-story-building-collapses-in-lagos-workers-are-feared-to-be-trapped/

The United Kingdom immigration officials in London last Friday detained the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, for hours.

The revelation was made by Professor Chinyere Okunna, a former commissioner for information during the administration of Peter Obi in Anambra State.

According to Okunna, Obi was detained after his British Airways plane landed in Heathrow Airport.

Okunna said: “I suppose he told me all this confidentially. My very sincere apologies, Your Excellency, for ‘breaking’ this confidentiality, but History beckons and I CANNOT KEEP QUIET.

“Obi spoke to me at the Official Opening of the Specialist Hospital of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Sisters, Nkpor (on Tuesday). He had arrived at the event after flying in from London.

“I actually had no idea he had travelled out of the country, until the ovation over his presence in a London Church went viral on the Internet.

“He arrived at Heathrow Airport and joined the usual queue to pass through Immigration, and that was when his ordeal began.

“He was stopped and questioned for a long time and subsequently handed a detention note and told to wait for further interrogation and investigation.

“This was terribly unusual for a man who had lived honourably in the UK for a long time.

“In the face of this harassment, some well-meaning Nigerians, knowing who he is, raised their voices in protest, demanding to know why he was being treated that way.”

Speaking further, Okunna revealed that the officials were afraid that someone was impersonating Obi in the UK due to the series of protests they were experiencing.

“The shocking revelation by the Immigration Officer was that his (Obi’s) identity ‘was duplicated’. This revelation has definitely set off alarm bells.

“For people who are knowledgeable about such matters, this is a very dangerous development because the implication is that someone is impersonating Peter Obi.

“And that someone could implicate Obi in all manner of dubious and even criminal activities, and rope him into any number of offences; he could get Obi framed for one criminal act or another. The frightening scenario of what can happen is unimaginable!!!

“This is the height of it all for a man who has been under sundry intimidation and emotional torture: Bugging of his phone and those of his wife and children; keeping him constantly under surveillance; calling him names; putting him under severe pressure to leave (run away from) the country; wrongly accusing him of negative things he knows absolutely nothing about, etc.

“As he was telling me his ‘Heathrow tale of woe’ at Nkpor today, I could see a man who was in severe pain and under unbearable stress, who many would expect to be at the point of despair.

“But, as he confirmed, he is ready to suffer this pain and is as determined as ever to pursue the path which he has chosen to enable him arrive at the destination which well-meaning people in Nigeria and far far beyond are expecting him to arrive at.”

https://platinumtimes.ng/uk-officials-hold-peter-obi-for-several-hours-on-suspicion-of-impersonating/

In a petition submitted to the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate for 2023, Abdul-Azeez Adeniran, commonly known as Jandor, accuse Babajide Sanwo-Olu of having a false West African Examination Council, or WAEC, result.

The Labour Party and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the party's candidate in the election, were joined in the suit by the petitioner, who also provided justifications for the disqualification of Obafemi Hamzat, the APC candidate for governor.

The petitioner charged the Labour Party candidate of having multiple party affiliations at the time he ran for governor of Lagos State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, is listed as the first respondent, while Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, APC, Rhodes-Vivour, and Labour Party are listed as the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth respondents, respectively, in the tribunal document that our reporter has seen.

The petitioners claim that the March 18 governorship election result left a lot to be desired due to flagrant violations of existing laws and subsidiary legislation on INEC's election-related standards.

The PDP contended in the petition with the marking EPT/LAG/GOV/01/2023 and the date April 7 that the second, third, and fifth responders should be disqualified because they were not eligible to run as candidates at the time of the election.

According to the PDP, "The 2nd and 3rd Respondents, although not lawfully sponsored and not eligible, campaigned for the position of Governor of Lagos State, the subject of this Petition, along with the 1st Petitioner and others."

"Similarly, the 1st Petitioner and others ran for the position of Governor of Lagos State, the subject of this Petition, along with the 5th and 6th Respondents, who were not lawfully sponsored nor qualified.

The 2nd Respondent, who was improperly sponsored by the 4th Respondent, was declared the victor of the election for governor of Lagos State by the 1st Respondent after the election.

The PDP claimed in their period that the 5th respondent, who was also not legally sponsored by the 6th respondent, received the second-highest number of votes in the election for governor of Lagos State.

The statement said, "Contrary to this requirement, the Lagos state chapter of the APC through her letter dated 24th May 2022 notified the State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the party primary election held on 26th May 2022, with information of the said primary's site.

According to the Election Act of 2022, it stated, "The notification from the state chapter of the APC was consequently illegitimate, null, and void."

It was then discovered that a Statement of Result issued by Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School, Ijebu-Ife for May/June 1981 GCE O' Level Examination with examination number 17624/118, which he submitted for his first term election as governor of the state, was not confirmed by WAEC, the petitioner stated. This was a matter of fraud warranting disqualification.

The PDP claimed in its petition that when JANDOR and PDP asked WAEC for confirmation, they were instructed to buy the scratch card for verification of the WAEC result. This confirmed the results as not coming from WAEC and revealed them to be a fake result.

The petitioner claimed that the Labour Party candidate had joined the PDP before choosing the Labour Party governorship forms for the election, which rendered his nomination illegitimate.

Additionally, as of June 18, 2022, when Rhodes-Vivour asserted under testimony that he had enrolled as a member of the Labour Party, he was still a PDP member.

The petition from the Lagos PDP stated that "documentary proof and newspaper report proving his participation in the screening process for the running mate to the Lagos PDP governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (JANDOR), on June 22, 2022, was supplied."

Since the candidate for governor of Lagos State is not permitted to be a member of more than one political party at the time of being sponsored as a candidate for the general election, his nomination is unlawful, in accordance with the Electoral Act.

Remember that according to INEC, Sanwo-Olu defeated Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, who received 312,329 votes, to win the election with 762,134 votes.

https://platinumtimes.ng/lagos-gov-election-pdps-jandor-criticizes-sanwo-olus-victory-cites-reasons-to-disqualify-the-apc-and-lp/

The Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, on Wednesday, ordered that the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate, Fredrick Nwajagu, be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

Nwajagu was arrested last Saturday following a viral video, in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people living in the state.

The 67-year-old was arraigned on Wednesday before the magistrate court, presided over by P. E. Nwaka.

The police charged him with two counts, bordering on misconduct and intention to cause a breach of peace in Lagos State.

The four-man police prosecution team, led by the OC Legal, Yetunde Cardoso, told the court that Nwajagu committed the offence on March 26, 2023, at No 2 Akeem Shittu Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos.

“The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by making inciting statements, saying that he would bring IPOB terrorist group to shut down Lagos for one month, three weeks, or three days,” the prosecution said.

According to the team, the offences contravened Sections 168 (d), 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

They prayed the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre for 30 days pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

However, counsel for the defendant, while moving their client’s bail application, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail in the most liberal terms.

The magistrate, who rejected the counsel’s plea, ordered the immediate remand of the defendant to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the DPP.

Nwaka adjourned the case till May 3, 2023, for DPP advice.

Nwajagu, in a 49-second video, which went viral on Twitter, had allegedly threatened to invite IPOB members to Lagos to protect the Igbo people and their properties in the state.

In the viral video, he said, “IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilise for that. We have to do that. We must have our security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon.

“When they discover that we have our security before they will come, they will know that we have our men there. I am not saying a single word to be hidden. I am not hiding my words, let my words go viral. Igbo must get their right and get a stand in Lagos State.”

However, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, reacting to his statements, said the command would resist IPOB presence in the state.

Following the statement, the defendant was arrested by the Department of State Services on April 1, 2023, in a hotel in Ejigbo.

https://platinumtimes.ng/ipob-court-remands-lagos-eze-igbo-for-making-an-incendiary-remark/

Prof. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, says he cautioned Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, on excesses of the his supporters, otherwise known as ‘Obidients.’

Soyinka, stated this in a statement titled, “Media responsibility,’’ on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the elder statesman said his recent interview with Channels Television was misrepresented, with his remarks rendered unrecognisable.

The TV station had aired a one and half-hour interview with Soyinka a week ago on Monday.

Soyinka maintained that his rejection of fascism wasn’t new and that on three occasions, he was able to send a message to Obi, that, if he lost the election, it would be his followers who lost it for him.

He stated, “What I have read – at least, thus far – this morning, extracted from a one-and-a-half long interview, conducted a week ago with Channels Television, brings once more to the fore, the critical responsibility of the media in transmitting the spoken, even recorded word to the public.

“This is especially crucial in a time of civic uncertainty. When remarks are taken out of context, spliced into a new one, provided a sensational headline, distortions become stamped on public receptivity, and the central intent of one’s remarks becomes completely unrecognisable.

“I denounced the menacing utterances of a vice-presidential aspirant as unbecoming. It was a gladiatorial challenge directed at the judiciary and, by implication, the rest of the democratic polity.

“But what on earth has happened to my even more urgent condemnation of the physical violence inflicted on those designated “strangers” in Lagos in the lead up to, and during governorship elections?

“This prejudicial selectivity is a betrayal of trust, and I find it contemptuous of public deserving. My critique of incipient fascism in the movement remains grounded in indisputable evidence.”

Soyinka stated that throughout the interview, he continued to stress that the final word had yet to be pronounced on the elections – “that omission renders the full message tendentious!”

“My rejection of fascism is nothing new. On three occasions, I was able to send a message to Peter Obi that if he lost the election, it would be his followers who lost it for him. It was depressing to watch his lieutenant, a crucially positioned voice of a movement that has ‘broken the mould’, threaten the totality of social existence.

“Whatever our ideological leaning, is Donald Trump the ideal template for a burgeoning democracy in the nation?”

He stated that he also remained concerned by the alleged complaint by him of people not following “instructions.”

“If words are garbled in recording, the speaker can be reached for clarification – else, simply leave out the unclear section completely to avoid misrepresentation. After all, piecemeal transmission is legitimate proceeding, as long as a part is not presented as the whole.

“I am not a member of the Labour Party, so how can giving ‘instructions’ become my role? Like a number of others, I have admittedly contributed to the making of this moment – going back several years – and it is painful to have the followers of such a movement, send it slithering backwards and down the fascistic slope, ” Soyinka said.

https://platinumtimes.ng/i-warned-peter-obi-about-his-supporters-antics-wole-soyinka/

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has suspended Dr. Uche Ogah, former minister of state for mines and steel development, for allegedly working for other parties during the just-concluded general elections in the state.


APC in a letter signed by its Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, alleged that while Ogah donated his campaign bill boards to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Okey Ahiwe after losing his case against Chief Ikechi Emenike; the former Minister sponsored his brother, Chief Amaobi Ogah of the Labour Party against a serving APC member of the House of Representatives.

Ogah was also accused of donating his campaign structure to the LP governorship candidate, Dr Alex Otti.

But when contacted, Ogah dismissed his purported suspension as being of no moment, arguing that Avajah lacks the constitutional powers to suspend him.

The former Minister also accused those in Chief Emenike’s camp of colluding with the PDP to destroy Abia APC.

” Avajah needs to be called to order so that he knows that he doesn’t have the right to do certain things.

“It’s my Ward that has the powers to suspend me and my ward never suspended me. Those people in Ikechi Emenike’s camp came to work for the PDP.

” PDP used them to destroy APC. How can somebody that says his wife is the Nigeria Ambassador to the US ; somebody collecting all the money and contracts; was only able to give APC, a ruling party at the centre, 8000 votes during the presidential poll?

” Nkeiru told everybody that I had no electoral value but I wanted to prove her wrong and teach her a lesson. I have shown her that she is the one without any electoral value.

” She said she can win election without me. Now, let her come and win election in Isuikwuato- Umunneochi federal constituency again. She said no man with balls can collect the seat from her, and I wanted to tell her that I have balls!

“All those people in Emenike’s camp have lost their political relevance. In 2019, we gave APC 49% but one Tony Eze compromised, and they cancelled, and cancelled until it came down to 26%.

” Ikpeazu then carried it to Abuja and claimed that he was the one that gave Buhari 26%. So, during the governorship election, they gave him the entire structure including INEC. Despite that, we still won that election if not that they stole our votes in six LGAs.

” So, all these people following Emenike have lost their political value in Abia State. Abia has rejected all of them.

” Who is Avajah? Let him produce his polling unit and Ward results let’s see. He is the one to be suspended because he has no political relevance in Abia politics”.

The former Minister, however, admitted supporting his brother who vied for the House of Representatives under the platform of the Labour Party; as well as the LP governorship candidate, Dr Otti.

” If I supported my brother? Yes I did! I also supported Dr Alex Otti. I’m not hiding it because I wanted to show those in Emenike’s camp that they have no political value.”

Ogah denied ever supporting PDP swearing that he would rather quit politics than support the PDP.

” How can I support PDP? Am I mad? It’s only a mad man that can support PDP in Abia!

” There is nothing that will make me support PDP, instead, I will leave politics. PDP is just a group of people that put themselves together to impoverish the people; to destroy the economy of the state; to destroy the future of the unborn generation. There is nothing that will make me support such a group of people.

” I supported Otti because he was the only candidate I saw that had the capacity and structure to deliver Abia. So, I told my political structure, Abia Rejoice to go ahead and support him. He is the candidate that can take care of Abia.

” Ikechi Emenike was not a candidate because he didn’t come to contest election. He cannot win his polling unit.

” In 2019, I told Abians that: ” If you cannot vote for Buhari, don’t vote for me. I stood and campaigned for Buhari. Did Ikechi campaign for Bola Tinubu for one day? Did he ever mention Tinubu’s name anywhere?

” So, we are going to do our own letter to the President- elect, and tell him how much he collected from PDP to destroy APC in Abia”.

Abia APC also suspended its senatorial candidate for Abia central district and member representing Ikwuano -Umuahia federal constituency, Rep Sam Onuigbo, for allegedly supporting Peter Obi of the Labour Party during the presidential poll.

Onuigbo was also accused of supporting the PDP’s candidate for Ikwuano – Umuahia federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji.

APC also suspended Senator Nkechi Nworgu for allegedly working for the Young Peoples Party, YPP, during the governorship poll.

But in a swift reaction, Senator Nworgu dismissed her purported suspension as “a total nonsense”, and of no effect.

She accused the APC governorship candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike, of sidelining APC stakeholders in the state.

The former lawmaker also accused Emenike of ” pocketing all the money sent by APC for its campaigns in the state, adding that Emenike was never serious about his governorship ambition..

” He ( Emenike) did not run for any election. He just pocketed the money sent by the party and did not consult with anybody “, Nworgu alleged.

Other APC chieftains suspended by the party include: former Abia Speaker, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka for allegedly working for Dr Alex Otti of Labour Party; Chief Sam Ikire, Anyim Nyerere and former Deputy Governor, Chris Akomas for allegedly supporting PDP governorship candidate, Okey Ahiwe.

The party also suspended Nduka Anyanwu for allegedly working for Otti.

https://platinumtimes.ng/ogah-nworgu-and-others-l-suspended-by-the-abia-apc-due-to-alleged-anti-party-conduct/

Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) has joined the race for the presidency of the 10th Senate and leadership of the National Assembly.

Izunaso presented his Certificate of Return to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa on Tuesday in Abuja as the re-elected senator for Imo West.

He hinted the President of his interest in seeking the top leadership position in the Senate..

Izunaso graduated from University of Jos in 1989 and bagged a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the University of Abuja in 1998 and Masters in Business Administration from University of Calabar.

Before making an inroad into politics, Izunaso was a journalist.

He was elected into the House of Representatives, having worked as the Chief Press Secretary to then Speaker Agunwa Anakwe in 1992.

The senator was also Chief Press Secretary to Senate President with the return of civilian administration in 1999 and served as Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Youth and Sports from 1995-1997 and retained same position with Minister of Labour and Productivity (1998-1999).

Currently the most ranking senator from the Southeast and the Southsouth, Izunaso was first elected into the Senate in 2007. He later served as the National Organising Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) after which he returned to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.

At the Senate, he has served as Chairman of some committees and member of others, ranging from Rules and Business, Local and Foreign Debts, Housing, Gas, Foreign Affairs and Sports Development.

He also sponsored many Bills and led debates during plenary sessions.

https://platinumtimes.ng/osita-izunaso-meets-buhari-and-expresses-interest-in-running-for-senate/

Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has disclosed why he is against the victories of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and re-elected governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to Falz, the alleged failure of INEC to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the elections is the basis of his opposition to the victories of Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.

The rapper, who recently released a track ‘Mr. Yakub’, said this when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s entertainment programme titled ‘Music as a political tool’.

Falz said: “The rules and regulations that were supposed to guide these elections were not applied. The INEC chairman himself prior to the election had come out to release his regulations but when the elections were happening, we were seeing these processes that were not transparent and exactly the opposite of what he said it was going to be.

“Of course people are going to raise eyebrows, of course, everyone is going to be like ‘what is going on?’ That was pretty much how it happened. It was clear from all that that they were some fowl play involved.”

Over the years, Falz alongside a few of his colleagues has been an active voice in the political terrain of the country, speaking on national issues.

https://platinumtimes.ng/2023-poll-falz-explains-why-he-opposes-tinubu-and-sanwo-olus-victory/