PRESS STATEMENT: ACTING PRESIDENT RESCHEDULES TRIP TO ONDO STATE

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has had to reschedule his visit to Ondo State today. The trip had been set-up in continuation of his tour of the oil-producing communities which earlier took the Acting President to Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Imo States.

Prof. Osinbajo was already air-borne this morning when weather reports indicated dusty haze and very poor visibility at the Akure Airport and other alternative airports nearby.

The presidential jet therefore had to return to Abuja following which the weather condition was closely monitored until about 2:30pm, when it became abundantly clear that the situation would not change in time for the Acting President to achieve the purposes of the visit. The visit has therefore been rescheduled for Monday, the 20th of February, 2017.

ACTING PRESIDENT OSINBAJO PAYS TRIBUTE TO INNOCENT OPARADIKE

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, extends heartfelt condolences to the Oparadike family, the government and people of Imo State on the death of Chief Innocent Oparadike, a former Commissioner for Information and Culture in Imo State.

Prof Osinbajo also commiserates with the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors on the demise of their colleague and one of Nigeria’s brightest journalists and thinkers.

Acting President Osinbajo believes that the late Chief Oparadike, who had a very distinguished career as a journalist and administrator will be long remembered by his colleagues and admirers for his profound decency, boldness and uprightness.

EFCC detains Imo State Ex-Governor Achike Udenwa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today re - arrested the former governor of Imo State Achike Udenwa in connection with alleged campaign scandal at the last presidential election.

Udenwa as a State Co-ordinator for The Presidential Campaign Organisation in Imo State was said to have collected the sum of N350,000,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) from the former senator representing Kaduna South and Director of Finance for the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Nenadi Usman.

The suspect, in his statement to the Commission admitted receiving the money via Diamond Bank account No.0058805692 and 005950791 respectively on the 14th and 28th of January 2015 in three separate instalments. He added that the money came from a company named Joint Trust Dimension Limited. 

PRESS RELEASE: AG.IGP IBRAHIM K. IDRIS COMMENDS POLICE OFFICERS IN KOGI AND IMO RE-RUN ELECTIONS

 Develops strategy for violence free elections

The Inspector General of Police, Ag.IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni has expressed his satisfaction with the impressive performance of Police Officers in the re-run elections in Kogi and Imo States on 23rd July, 2016 and commended the officers for their unalloyed service to the nation.

As a lead security agency in democratic policing, the IGP commended the Police Officers for their personal and collective demonstration of patriotism, professionalism and commitment in ensuring that the re-run elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any breach of public security.

The ability of the Police Officers to dominate their areas of jurisdiction and supervision before, during and after the elections is a clear testimony of the police new resolve to adhere to international best practices in the conduct of elections.

BREAKING NEWS: The Conduct of Outstanding 2015 Re-Run Elections

BREAKING NEWS: BOKO HARAM SUICIDE BOMBER ARRESTED IN OWERRI

The reports from the South Eastern state of Imo has it that Boko Haram sucide bomber caught at Owerri City school in Imo State capital City, Owerri this morning.

It learnt from reliable sources that a suspected suicide bomber was intercepted and arrested in the early hour of today around 09:00 at Owerri City School, Imo state.
More to follow...

NDLEA arrests suspect with N75m worth of cocaine

The Cross River State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a suspect, Kelechi Amaka, with 6.3kg of cocaine valued at N75m.

Amaka, an Imo State indegene based in Cameroon, was arrested at the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority Jetty in Calabar on her way from Cameroon.

Parading the suspect at the office of the NDLEA in Calabar, the state Commander of the agency, Mr. Kayode Adeniyi, said the drugs were concealed in six factory sealed ladies hand bags and kept in a leather box.

The NDLEA boss added that, attempts to smuggle the drug into Nigeria failed as the suspect was intercepted by NDLEA officers on operation at the NIWA Jetty.

Six arrested as police avert deadly bomb explosions in Owerri church

Police in Imo state have arrested six persons over the discovery of two Improvised Explosive Devices in a church in Owerri, CP Abdumajid Ali says

Two Improvised Explosive Devices were discovered at a Winners Chapel church along Port Harcourt road in Owerri, Imo state this morning June 15th. The police say they believe the explosives were planted on Saturday night and timed to explode after worshippers had gathered for worship today.

Winner Chapel Worshippers escape death in Owerri as police uncover deadly explosives in Church

The Police in Imo state have arrested six suspects over the discovery of two Improvised Explosive Devices in a church in Owerri, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police, Abdumajid Ali, and spokesperson for the command, Andrew Enwerem, have said.

Mr. Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, told PREMIUM TIMES the police was alerted to strange objects at the entrance of the Port Harcourt Road branch of Winners Chapel around midnight on Saturday. He said bomb experts were promptly drafted to the church to sweep the area.

“During their check, it was discovered that Improvised Explosive Devices in forms of refrigerator compressor concealed in sack bags were discovered,” Mr. Enwerem said. “One was promptly detonated at the scene because it was on a timer. The other one was dis-alarmed and then taken away for detonation.”

How Soldiers Intercept Suspected Boko Haram Ammunition Supply Vehicle, Arrest DSP, Others

At least three persons, including a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Abu Haruna, and a corporal, Solomon have been arrested for illegal trafficking of arms and ammunition.

The third suspect, Onuwa Attaka, is the driver of the arms laden vehicle. It was gathered that their confession showed alleged involvement in supply of arms to insurgents in Northern Nigeria.

The three suspects, who were heading to the North from Imo State, were intercepted in Nsukka, Enugu State, by officers and men of the Nigerian Army while travelling in a bus.

Items recovered from them include- 40 AK47 magazines, 4 boxes of AK47 live ammunition, 100 pieces of live cartridges, one piece of Denin Mopol khaki and charms concealed in a cap.

One of the army officers who spoke to reporters under anonymity disclosed that a police corporal serving in Imo State Police Command was also involved in the arms running.

He said: "When we asked the occupants of the vehicle to come down, we discovered a police corporal in uniform among them.The corporal on getting down pretended to be pressed; he later ran away".

It was gathered that the suspects were taken to Nsukka Police Division before their transfer to the state CID.The retired DSP, Abu Haruna, confessed that he had been in the business of arms dealing since he retired from the police.

He said their mission was to supply the ammunition to their buyer in Taraba State.

The source said Haruna further confessed that they decided to go on the supply after the buyer complained that the first batch was incomplete.The Police corporal's identity has been traced to Imo State Police command; his name was simply given as Solomon, even as efforts are still being made to effect his arrest.

Meanwhile, the Nsukka Police Area Commander, ASP. Ros-Amson Haladu has praised the gallantry of the soldiers in combating crimes in the area."I want to commend the Army Officers for their vigilance in tracking down these illegal arms dealers."At the same time, I warn criminals to leave this vicinity or risk being apprehended by security operatives", he said.