Author: Editor

Ike Nnachi,  Abakaliki There was pandemonium in Ishieke, and Ukwuachi suburbs of Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State on Monday, as gunmen reportedly shot into the air to disperse traders at a market in the area. The gunmen, believed to be enforcing the seven-day sit-at-home declared by a separatist group stormed the market and shot into the air to disperse traders. The gunmen operated in an open roof vehicle and two motorcycles wielding various high calibre guns. They were said to have warned the traders to go home immediately for their own good. The situation caused pandemonium in the area as…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia There is confusion in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as its National Working Committee, NWC, has rejected the list of majority and Deputy Majority Leaders as well as the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip announced by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Akpabio, had during the plenary announced the names of eight lawmakers as Senate majority and minority leaders. Four of the principal officers are APC members while four are from the various opposition parties. Below is the list of the principal officers and their parties: Majority leaders: Opeyemi Bamidele – Senate Majority Leader (Ekiti…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu It seems more troubles await the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah, in the election petitions tribunal, as the Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo has resumed hearing in the case filed by the governor against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/611/2023. Peter Mbah, represented by Emeka Ozoani SAN, sought to move an application for an interlocutory injunction restraining the NYSC from appearing before the Election Petition Tribunal to give evidence with respect to the alleged forged Certificate…

Our Reporter, Abuja with Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The South-East managed to get the slot of Deputy Leader as the Senate announced its principal officers today. President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced the immediate-past Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Dave Umahi as the Deputy Senate Leader. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC Ekiti Central, was announced the Senate Majority leader, while former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, APC Borno South, as the Senate Chief Whip; and Senator Lola Ashiru , APC, Kwara South, was announced  the Deputy Whip. “The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus of the Senate after consultations has emerged with their…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has threatened to close schools, markets and other public institutions observing a one-week illegal sit-at-home order by the the self-acclaimed factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Simon Ekpa. The governor said this in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia in Enugu. The self exiled factional IPOB leader had on June 14 through his Twitter handle declared total lockdown of the entire South-East from July 3 to 10 excluding July 6. According to Onyia, Enugu State Government was alarmed and dismayed…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka A man from Enugu State says his firm has volunteered to award Ejikeme Mmesoma an international scholarship up to her masters level. Mmesoma is a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, Anambra State, who was accused of inflating her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result. A statement from JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, had said the student, who was widely celebrated for scoring 362 and said to be the highest for 2023 UTME, actually scored 249 in the exam. Benjamin had said the student tampered with the original result to curry favour. He subsequently announced that the…

Lawrence Nwimo,  Awka A former minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili has called for an independent investigation into the ongoing result saga between the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and its candidate, Mmesoma Ejikeme. Ikengaonline reported that JAMB publicly accused Mmesoma who is a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, Anambra State, of allegedly inflating her 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. The news which is making rounds in different media platforms had it that Mmesoma had announced that she scored 362 in this year’s UTME, declaring herself as the overall best candidate in the country. But in a statement on…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has argued  that the Federal Government no longer has any morality to keep on detaining their son in view of the recent confession by the ex-Niger Delta militants’ Leader, Asari Dokubo, that his (Dokubo’s) men are in oppression in the South-East. The family which spoke through Prince Emmanuel Kanu demanded explanations from Dokubo what the mission of his said men in the South-East is. Prince Emmanuel expressed shock over the docility of the Federal Government about the disturbing confession by Dokubo,…

As Otti’s wife flags off breastfeeding week Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The World Health Organisation, WHO, and UNICEF, respectively, have expressed concern over the soaring rate of infant and maternal mortality rate in Nigeria. Both agencies which made this known on Monday during the flag off of the Round 1 of 2023 Exclusive Breastfeeding Week at Ubakala Umuahia Health Centre, pledged to sustain their efforts towards Improving maternal and child health. Flagging off the exercise, Abia First Lady, Mrs Priscilla Otti, also registered her worries over the ugly development. Mrs Otti who vowed to lead the campaign against the sad situation,…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Two suspected kidnappers have been apprehended along Opi-Ugwuogo road by a team of Enugu State Local Security Operatives led by Nsukka Local Government Area Neighbourhood Watch command. The arrest followed rising incidence of abduction and robbery along the route in recent times which has caused panic and anxiety among motorists and commuters. Ikengaonline reports that even the presence of over six police check points on the road has not deterred the hoodlums from carrying out their nefarious activities. The Police Command in the state had last week paraded before newsmen over 25 suspected criminals across the state including two suspected kidnappers arrested while operating along the…