Month: August 2024

The Nigerian military has replied those calling on it to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on behalf of the military, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja on Tuesday said the military will not heed such calls.

Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the opening ceremony of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference, Lagbaja said the call for military takeover was majorly coming from young Nigerians who never experienced the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule.

He stressed that the Nigerian Army was not ready to lose the “new prestige” it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years by allowing safe democratic rule.

“The Nigerian Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests to power. As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to losing the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years,

secure, and united,” he said.

Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army and its sister services have continued to receive support from the government at both the national and sub-national levels as shown in the recent purchase of 2 BELL UH-1 Huey Helicopters equipped with advanced sensors and enablers to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics and medical evacuation, among other functions.

He added that welfare of widows and family members of fallen heroes remains on course.

On the fallout of the recent nationwide hunger protest, the Army Chief stated that the situation was an eye opener that as an Armed Force, they should not only focus on physical security and defense of the nation but that food and social security issues can snowball into physical security challenges.

He said though the situation that led to the protest seemed to have settled, the Nigerian Army understands that the issue of food security was among the factors that led to the protest.

The COAS pledged the Army’s resolve to wade in through the review of its agricultural policy.

He further said the Nigerian Army currently provide security cover for farmers in critical farming communities in the North East,North West and North Central zones so as to prevent the devastating consequences of a halt in food production in those regions on the entire country’s food supply chain.

“The Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at highly subsidized rate in support of government efforts.

“Furthermore, the Army Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government and reputable private organizations on how best to collaborate to resolve food crisis in the country,” he added.

Lagbaja revealed that the Nigerian Army has acquired other combat enablers such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles,rifles, and ammunition to strengthen operations and security across the country.

Declaring the event open, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno expressed happiness that the conference was held in Akwa Ibom and commended the COAS for the “purposeful direction he has given to Nigerian Army towards meeting its constitutional responsibility”.

Eno equally assured of the state government’s readiness to lend all necessary support to enable the establishment of the proposed Army base in the state as well as other logistics.

George Moghalu, a  former National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has resigned from the party.

Moghalu while giving reason for resigning his membership from the party on Tuesday, cited personal reasons.

The resignation put to rest the rumour of his move to quit the party since last year.

Moghalu, who previously served as the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), addressed his resignation in a formal letter.

The letter was directed to the APC chairman of Uruagu Ward 1 in Nnewi, Nnewi North local government area, Anambra State, and was also sent to the local government and state chairmen of the party.

The resignation letter, titled “Resignation of Membership of the APC,” officially marks the end of Moghalu’s association with the ruling party.

The letter reads, “I bring you good wishes of my dear family and to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership of the APC with effect from today, August 26, 2024.

DSS officials rejoice following removal of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as Director-General of the security agency pic.twitter.com/Sg4SppNzdy

— APRO MEDIA (@Aprotv_ng) August 27, 2024

Muhyiddin Yassin, a former Prime Minister of Malaysia has been charged with sedition following the comments he made regarding the country’s former king, according to his lawyer.

The 77-year-old politician appeared in court in the northern town of Gua Musang, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The sedition charge stems from remarks Muhyiddin made during a speech ahead of recent by-elections, in which he questioned the 2022 decision of then-monarch Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to appoint his political rival, Anwar Ibrahim, as Malaysia’s prime minister.

The king’s decision followed a hotly contested election and was instrumental in forming a coalition government led by Anwar.

Malaysia operates as a constitutional monarchy, where the throne is uniquely rotated every five years among the rulers of nine states with deep-rooted Islamic royal traditions. While the role of the king is largely ceremonial, it holds significant respect in the Muslim-majority nation, and recent years have seen the monarch play a critical role in maintaining political stability.

Supporters of Muhyiddin, who now leads the opposition, expressed their approval outside the courthouse when they learned of his not-guilty plea, as reported by an AFP journalist on the scene.

The sedition charge, brought under Malaysia’s colonial-era Sedition Act, carries the potential for a fine and a prison sentence of up to three years for those convicted of undermining the monarchy. The case underscores the sensitive nature of comments related to the royal institution in Malaysia.

The Gua Musang court has scheduled Muhyiddin’s next hearing for November 4, where further proceedings will take place.

A 39-year-old man identified as Monday Julius has been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command during an alleged attempt to steal a Toyota Yaris car in the Oshodi area of the state.

According to a statement released by the command, the suspect was arrested by officers of the Ilupeju division of the command after investigating the incident of the stolen car.

The suspect was caught disassembling the car to sell in parts.

The statement, released Monday, August 26, reads, “Officers of Ilupeju Division while investigating a report about a Toyota Yaris Saloon Car that was removed from where it was parked, arrested one Monday Julius ‘m’ aged 39 at Oshodi.

“The suspect had however begun to disassemble the car to sell in parts as he could not sell it whole. The vehicle has been recovered and investigation is ongoing.”

The spokesperson of the command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, said the suspect and an accomplice stole the motorcycle from the residence of one Salisu Shafiu.

A suspected motorcycle thief has been rescued by men of the Jigawa State Police Command, after he was beaten up by an irate mob in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.
 
The spokesperson of the command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect, Datti Idris and an accomplice stole the motorcycle from the residence of one Salisu Shafiu.
 
“On 20/08/2024 at about 1000hrs, information from a liable source disclosed that angry mobs gathered at Barga Quarters in Kazaure LGA and started beating one suspect for the offence of theft of motorcycle,” the statement read.
     
“The team of Policemen raced to the scene after receiving the report.
     
“On their arrival at the scene, the team professionally rescued the suspect who identified as Datti Idris ‘m’ 42yrs of Mu’azu village, Sule Tankarkar LGA.
     
“On interrogation at Kazaure Division, the suspect revealed to have conspired with one Sardo, now at large, storm the residential house of one Salisu Shafiu ‘m’ 35yrs of Laminga village, Kazaure LGA, on the same date at about 0500hrs and stole his Bajaj motorcycle red in color.

BBNaija Season 9 dynamic duo, Shatoria which consists of Shaun and Victoria, have emerged as the Heads of House (HoH) in Biggie’s house.

This victory grants them immunity from nominations, ensuring their stay in the house for another week.

This win brought an end to Nelita’s impressive twice-in-a-row head-of-house streak. The intense competition saw housemates pushing their limits, but Shatoria emerged victorious, securing immunity from eviction for the week

Nelita, who has dominated previous Head of House challenges, now steps back as Shatoria takes the helm. With the game heating up, all eyes are on Shatoria to see how they will navigate the responsibilities of the house.