News
Court issues bench warrant against Amaechi, Tonye Cole for failing to honour invitation
A high court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, has issued a bench warrant against Rotimi Amaechi, former governor and Tonye Cole, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state.
Chinwendu Nwogu, the judge, also issued a bench warrant against Sahara Energy Resources Limited, Chamberlain Peterside, NG powers HPS Limited, and Cenpropsaroten Management Limited over failure to appear before the court on Rivers State Government’s criminal charges against them.
The presiding judge adjourned the case to July 5 for the plea.
The Rivers government filed a fresh lawsuit on misappropriation of public funds against Amaechi during his tenure as governor of the state from 2007 to 2015.
Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, had set up a seven-man panel in 2022 to probe Amaechi over an alleged withdrawal of N96 billion from the treasury during his tenure as governor.
The panel had also investigated issues surrounding the “sale of assets” by the former governor.
The listed valuable assets are Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel, and the contract award for the execution of the monorail project.
The panel submitted its report in 2015, while Amaechi has insisted that he is not guilty of fraud.
However, on May 27, 2022, the supreme court dismissed an application by Amaechi, challenging the probe.
Wike said criminal charges were filed against the former governor, as well as Sahara Energy, a firm indicted in the deals.
Sahara Energy was co-founded by Tonye Cole.
News
Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting valid ID
Boris Johnson, former prime minister of the UK, was turned away from his local polling station after forgetting to bring the required photo identity.
Johnson had joined locals in South Oxfordshire on Thursday to vote in the police and crime commissioner election.
Polling officials however told him he would not be allowed to vote without providing his identity.
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID in the UK including passports, driving licences, blue badges, and certain local travel cards.
As prime minister in 2022, Johnson introduced the Elections Act which requires photo ID — a development that sparked intense criticisms from Britons.
Last year, the Electoral Commission warned that the new law could exclude hundreds of thousands of people, including minorities and those with disabilities.
A spokesperson for Johnson confirmed he had forgotten the photo ID, but that he was able to cast his ballot after he returned with a valid ID.
“Mr Johnson voted Conservative,” Sky News quoted the spokesperson as saying.
Downing Street said it would “look into” changing the controversial rules which require photo ID in order to vote, so that ID cards of veterans can be added to the list of valid identification.
News
Lagos state government uncovers another under bridge apartment in Ikoyi
The officials of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) have discovered an illegal settlement under the Osborne Bridge in Ikoyi.
Tokunbo Wahab, commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, on Thursday, said officials of LAGSEC have commenced immediate clearance of the place.
“Another illegal settlement was discovered under the Osborne Bridge, Ikoyi. Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial (KAI) commenced immediate clearance operation,” Wahab wrote in a post on X.
The recent discovery comes 24 hours after officials of the ministry of environment uncovered apartments under the Dolphin Estate Bridge where tenants pay N250,000 rent annually.
Wahab disclosed that 86 rooms partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container, were discovered by an enforcement team of the Lagos ministry of environment.
Thirty-three persons were arrested at the under bridge apartments.
Another illegal settlement was discovered under the Osborne Bridge, Ikoyi. Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial (KAI) commenced immediate clearance operation.#ZeroToleranceLagos #CleanerLagos@followlasg @jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat pic.twitter.com/g6Rso9c792
— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) May 2, 2024
News
Sanwo-Olu appoints KWAM1’s daughter as SSA
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a KWAM1, as his Senior Special Assistant on Tourism.
This was according to a viral video of her father thanking the governor, and congratulatory messages sighted by newsmen on her Instagram page, @damimarshall_ on Thursday.
In the viral video, her father, KWAM1, while performing on stage at the coronation and birthday reception of Oba Sikirullah Apena on Thursday, thanked Sanwo-Olu for appointing his daughter into his cabinet.
The fuji singer noted that it was his daughter, Damilola, who asked him to publicly thank the governor for her appointment.
Congratulating her on the appointment, a Nigerian, Olanrewaju-Smart Wasiu wrote, “Congratulations Barr. @damimarshall_ on your appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism. This is a deserving recognition for your hard work and contributions to our party”, to which she responded by saying “Thank you, sir.”
Another person, Balogun Basia wrote, “Please, join me in congratulating my friend K1 and the entire family on the appointment of my daughter Barrister Basirat Damilola Marshall as the SSA to the governor of Lagos State on Tourism. Damilola, this shall be the beginning of many good things that will come your way and that of your siblings Insha Allah, Alaumoh Amin.”
Until her appointment, Damilola was a principal partner at a law firm, Damilola Ayinde Marshal and Co.
As of the time of this report, efforts to reach the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, for confirmation proved abortive, as messages sent to his WhatsApp line were not responded to.
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