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Suspension of 18 Edo LG Chairmen illegal, AGF declares

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We're joining forces with foreign nations to recover stolen wealth - FG
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• EFCC confirms quizzing suspended chairmen

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi(SAN), on Thursday, condemned the suspension of the 18 local government chairmen in Edo State by the state House of Assembly.

The Assembly suspended the 18 LG chairmen on Monday over what it termed insubordination to Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The governor had written the Assembly, complaining that the 18 LG chairmen flouted his directive for them to submit the financial statements of their councils.

The Assembly, therefore, slammed two month suspension on the LG chairmen.

Reacting to the development on Thursday, the AGF, who in July secured a Supreme Court judgment, granting autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country, described the suspension of the Edo council chairmen as an illegality.

Fagbemi said, “One thing that I know and can say without fear is that under the present dispensation, the governor has no right to remove any local government chairman. That much I know.

“If I did not know before, since July 11, 2024, I became aware of it that the removal of any local government chairman or official would be the prerogative of that local government, through their legislative house.”

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday grilled the suspended Edo LG chairmen.

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Our correspondent gathered that all the 18 suspended local government chairmen were invited by the anti-graft agency.

While nine of them reported to the commission’s office on Thursday, the remaining were expected on Friday.

A top source in the commission, who carved anonymity, because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, told our correspondent as of 5:30 pm that the suspended chairmen were still being grilled.

“They are here and are still being interrogated as I speak with you. The chairmen were earlier invited based on the allegations against them. They are in two batches; the first batch, which included the chairmen of Akoko-Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East, and Esan West, came today; others are expected tomorrow.

“Those here already came with documents of their payroll and statement of accounts from the beginning of the year,” the source said.

Another source said the embattled chairmen were invited following a petition from the state governor over the alleged diversion of local government workers’ salaries.

“The governor wrote a petition to us, alleging that all the chairmen diverted money that was meant for workers of the various local government’s salaries between October and November. As a result of that, the salaries of workers were not paid and the workers have been grumbling and he called for an investigation.

“It was based on the petition that the chairmen were invited. Nine came today (Thursday) and they were at our Benin Office. We have started investigating the matter,” the source said.

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When contacted, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the suspended chairmen had been invited but declined further comments on the matter.

On Wednesday, the Edo State Governor, Okpebholo, inaugurated a panel to probe the council chairmen.

But the LG chairmen have rejected their suspension, describing it as an illegality in the face of LG autonomy.

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Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager denies diverting $345,000, says Chinwo received $625,000 and now trying to claim ownership of catalog he fully funded

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Mercy Chinwo’s former manager,  Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, has denied allegations of diverting $345,000 in funds, responding to claims made by the gospel artist’s camp.

In a series of social media posts, the manager called out Chinwo for attempting to claim ownership of a catalog that he allegedly funded fully.

According to the manager, he has sent up to $625,000 to Chinwo, despite the singer’s claims of unfair treatment.

In his post, the manager explained that, under a 50/50 earnings agreement with Chinwo, he was entitled to both royalties and remittances from their business dealings.

However, he accused Chinwo of using law enforcement and religious affiliations to manipulate the situation.

The former manager further claimed that he had invested a significant amount of time, money, and efforts into building Chinwo’s platform, providing financial support, and even securing housing for her before her success.

He also detailed his legal struggles, including an incident where he was allegedly extorted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while being detained for nine days.

In his final remarks, the former manager invited Chinwo to post her bank statements and songs recorded three years before her signing as further evidence.

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See his posts below………

You?ve received $625,000 to date and now you?re trying to claim ownership of a catalog I fully funded - Mercy Chinwo
You?ve received $625,000 to date and now you?re trying to claim ownership of a catalog I fully funded - Mercy Chinwo
You?ve received $625,000 to date and now you?re trying to claim ownership of a catalog I fully funded - Mercy Chinwo
You?ve received $625,000 to date and now you?re trying to claim ownership of a catalog I fully funded - Mercy Chinwo
You?ve received $625,000 to date and now you?re trying to claim ownership of a catalog I fully funded - Mercy Chinwo
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70-yr-old man, his daughter beheaded over land dispute in Delta

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Tragedy struck in the Amai community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, as a 70-year-old man, Mr Aghanti, and his 50-year-old daughter, Mrs Atagoshi, were reportedly beheaded over a land dispute.

The gruesome incident occurred after the suspect allegedly lured the victims into the bush under the pretext of discussing the land issue.

Their headless bodies were later discovered in the bush.

Reports said the woman, a secondary school teacher, had earlier purchased a piece of land in the community, which some individuals subsequently claimed.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, revealed that the assailant invited the victims to the bush, where the heinous crime was committed.

Edafe said, “The suspect called the woman, saying he wanted to discuss the land issue. He then took her and her father into the bush, killed them, and beheaded them.

“On the same day, vigilantes apprehended one Emeke with two human heads. He was mobbed and set ablaze by angry residents. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the human heads belonged to the father and daughter.

“Their headless bodies were found in the bush.”

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Edafe added that the main suspect is currently on the run, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.

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Petrol tanker explosion claims 50 lives in Niger

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No fewer than 50 persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion on Saturday.

The incident happened on the Dikko-Maje road opposite Badeggi fuelling station in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger.

Federal Road Safety Commander (FRSC) in Niger State, Mr Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

He said a loaded petrol tanker fell at the scene of the incident with people scooping the spilling fuel, unaware of the impending danger.

Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel were engulfed by the flames just as those who went to rescue them were also affected.

He said more than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Tsukwam, however, gave an assurance that personnel of the corps and other sister agencies were on ground for the rescue mission.

Tsukwam confirmed that his men were on the scene, working tirelessly to rescue those trapped.

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Similarly, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said the explosion occurred at about 9.am on Saturday.

He said the incident happened when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.

In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to effect the transfer, triggering an explosion that claimed more than 50 lives.

He added that many other persons were injured, while properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.

Baba-Arah said NSEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Suleja LGA Emergency Committee and volunteers, were carrying out search, rescue and recovery operations.

He said the injured have been moved to the hospital for treatment while efforts eere being made to recover the corpses of the deceased.

NAN reports that more details are expected as the response operation is still ongoing.

He urged residents of the area to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders as they work to mitigate the effects of the disaster.

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