Connect with us

News

Nigeria was on life support before Tinubu became President – Akpabio

Published

on

Spread the love

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says Nigeria was on life support when President Bola Tinubu took over the government from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in May 2023.

Akpabio, however, said notwithstanding the inherited bad economic situation, Tinubu remained determined to turn around the nation’s fortunes.

Akpabio, who asked Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu, said the President would eventually transform Nigeria the way he transformed Lagos State when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.

The Senate President spoke on Monday in his Akwa Ibom home state, during a constituency briefing/empowerment programme at Ikot Ekpene.

He said, “President Tinubu met a very bad condition on the ground; nobody envied him. He said he was determined to change the situation. Let us encourage him to change the situation. We believe that at the end of the day, we will move the country forward. He did it in Lagos before, he will do it again in Nigeria. Just give him time, he will take us to our El Dorado.

“I want us to know that Nigeria was on life support when the people voted Tinubu to become the President. One day I asked him, ‘Mr President, after becoming the President and seeing the level of economy that Emefiele left behind, are you excited?’ He said, ‘Well, I’m determined to change the situation’.”

Maduka College Advert

The Senate President said already Tinubu had touched so many lives across the country, saying the regional commissions set up across the country were aimed at development of the regions and empowerment of the people.

Akpabio said Tinubu had shown love and fairness to the South-East by making key appointments to his cabinet from the region and for approving the establishment of the South East Development Commission.

“The South-East has a lot of ecological problems; the South-East has very poor roads, just like the South-South and Mr president decided to give us the Ministry of Works in addition to other key ministries even the petroleum and gas ministries.

“Akwa Ibom is sitting on gas, all the way from Utapete down to Ibeno. Above all, the President, allowed our state to produce the Number Three Citizen, the Senate President. The last time we had such an opportunity was in 1979. President Tinubu deserves all our support,” Akpabio said.

During the empowerment programme, he distributed items such as bags of rice, cars, generators, deep freezers, tractors, tricycle vans, tricycles and mini-buses.

Other items distributed included motorcycles, sewing machines, make-up kits, N200,000 cash transfers to 2,000 undergraduates.

Akpabio said the empowerment programme was supported by President Tinubu, to thank the people for their votes and support.

He commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for his peaceful disposition.

“I want to appreciate the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno. Without peace, there will not be development. The governor has decided to embrace all Akwa Ibom people, irrespective of political lines. Even during Christmas, the governor sent 1,000 bags of rice to the APC in the state and because of that, I request that the PDP chairman should come forward and take 1,500 bags of rice for his members.

“We are touching all local governments. They will receive Keke Napep, generators, deep freezers to store their fish and other things. Tricycle for those bringing palm produce from the villages, those in fashion, we have sewing machines, make up-kits, etc. To the beneficiaries, use your items well,” Akpabio said.

News

DSS releases Nnamdi Kanu’s doctor, Aghaji

Published

on

Martin Aghaji, retired professor
Spread the love

…insider sheds light on reason for his arrest

Professor Martin Aghaji, personal doctor to Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested by Nigeria’s security operatives, Aloy Ejimakor, Mr Kanu’s lawyer said in an X post on Saturday.

Mr Kanu is the convicted leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He is serving life imprisonment in Sokoto State after a federal high court in Abuja convicted him in November for terrorism.

Mr Ejimakor said in the X post that Mr Aghaji, a retired professor, was arrested at his residence in Enugu State on Friday.

The lawyer did not specifically say which operatives arrested the medical doctor, although he suggested that the arrest was connected to a medical report issued by the doctor on Mr Kanu which contradicted a similar report by the Department of  State Security (DSS).

“This is the height of the official harassment he has been facing since he issued the medical report that did not comport with the SSS’s medical report on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Mr Ejimakor said.

How they arrested the medical doctor

Maduka College Advert

In another post on Sunday evening, the lawyer claimed “the security operatives” stormed Mr Aghaji’s residence at about 3:00 a.m., violently pulled down his gate and forcibly gained entry” into the apartment.

“During the commotion, shots were fired. They’ve now taken him to Lagos,” he stated.

Release of the doctor

Mr Ejimakor, in a fresh post on Sunday night, announced that Mr Aghaji has been released from detention following the intervention of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other bodies.

“While welcoming this development, the DSS is hereby admonished to do better than this,” he said, suggesting that the secret police earlier carried out the arrest.

DSS speaks

When contacted on Monday, the spokesperson of the DSS, Favour Dozie, confirmed the secret police indeed arrested Mr Aghaji from his residence in Enugu.

Ms Dozie, however, said the arrest was never linked to Mr Kanu or IPOB.

“He was arrested, but not in connection with Nnamdi Kanu,” she said, refusing to give details because the matter was under investigation.

The DSS spokesperson stressed that the retired professor’s arrest could not have been linked to Mr Kanu because the IPOB leader had already been convicted by a court and currently serving jail term.

She confirmed that Mr Aghaji was granted administrative bail and subsequently released to the NMA leadership in Lagos State on Sunday after providing a credible individual as his surety.

An official of the DSS later informed PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Aghaji’s arrest followed his alleged financial transactions to high-profile criminals under investigation.

“He was even sorry about it when he was informed of the transactions he made. The man himself felt very bad,” said the official who asked not to be named because he did not have permission to speak on the matter.

Continue Reading

News

PFIPC: Adeyemi’s father arrested as police intensify forgery probe

Published

on

Spread the love

The father of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, who is facing criminal charges over alleged forgery and impersonation, was reportedly arrested by police operatives on Monday in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Residents told journalists that the arrest took place at the family’s residence, where officers reportedly arrived in several vehicles before taking Adeniyi’s father and another man said to have been visiting the home into custody.

Witnesses said the operation drew the attention of residents and caused anxiety within the household, particularly for the suspect’s elderly mother.

A resident, who requested anonymity, alleged that the officers quickly secured the premises and left with the two men, while a security presence remained in the area for some time after the operation.

Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi is currently standing trial over allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences arising from claims linked to the purported Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council.

The case is pending before the court.

Maduka College Advert

As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming or explaining the reported arrests.

Continue Reading

News

Tiktoker, Peller, arraigned in court for threatening and videoing police officers on duty; granted 500k bail

Published

on

Peller
Spread the love

The Lagos state police command today July 6 arraigned popular TikToker, Habeeb Hamzat aka Peller, and one other, Bello Oladipo, before a magistrate court on a three-count charge bordering on resisting police officers, obstructing them from carrying out their duties, and threatening and videoing police officers while performing their lawful duties.

Recall that on July 2, Peller clashed with some officers along the Coastal road in Lagos after he was intercepted for allegedly driving a car without a plate number.

Peller had claimed he had just purchased the vehicle.

The officers, however, dismissed his claim and insisted he must be taken to the station. Things, however, took a different turn after Peller began recording his interaction with the police officers.

He claimed the officers became hostile to him. He alleged that one of the officers dragged his shirt and even pointed a gun at him.

Monday morning, both Peller and his friend, who was in the vehicle with him, were arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate court.

Maduka College Advert

Count one of the charges reads:

‘’That you Bello Oladipo “m” and Habeeb Hamzat “m” of No. 16,Platinum Road Lekki phase 2 , on the 2” day of July 2026 at about 2000hrs at Coastal Road Lekki, Lagos within the Magisterial district of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Resisting public officers and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state 2015.

COUNT 2

‘’That you Bello Oladipo “m” and Habeeb Hamzat “m “ of Number 16, Platinum Road, Lekki Phase 2, on the 2’” day of July 2026 at about 2000hrs at Coastal Road Lekki, Lagos within the Magisterial district of this Honourable court did obstruct one ASP Agbede Victor and three other police officers while engaged in the discharge of their constituted duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable by Section 117 (1)(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

The court subsequently granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties, one of whom must be a bl++d relative. The court also directed them to present two years’ tax clearance certificates as part of their bail conditions.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert