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Some gunmen have attacked five officials of the Nigerian Inland Water Ways Authority, NIWA, inflicting gunshot injuries on them.

It gathered the workers who are members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, were attacked on Wednesday 25th May 2022 at Otu Junction, Nnewi South, Anambra State, on their way to their official assignment.

It was also learned that the victims are presently receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at hospitals in the state and that three bullets were extracted by the Doctors from the neck of one of the officials, rushed to the Nnewi General Hospital.

Confirming the unfortunate incident, President-General of MWUN, Prince Adeyanju Adewale, said “They were travelling in their official NIWA branded Hilux when they were attacked for straying into Biafra land in a Nigeria branded sport utility vehicle. Three bullets were extracted by the medical team, from the neck of one of the officials rushed to the Nnewi General Hospital.

“We commend the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, for his prompt response which enabled quick medical assistance to our injured members. At this very sensitive period in the life of Nigerians, we find the incessant, unprovoked and persistent attacks on innocent Nigerians and the working masses by those who claim to be unknown gunmen as not only extrajudicial and barbaric but also a pointer to the failure of the security apparatus and of the state to live up to its primary function of providing protection for its citizens.

“Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria wishes to call on Government to live up to its primary duty of providing guaranteed security for its citizens especially working masses who must out of necessity move from one state of the country to another to conduct their business.

“This seeming insensitivity of Governments to the suffering plight of its citizens and the working masses is not only an affront to our need to survive but more on our right to life and existence.

The issue of unknown gunmen should be tackled to guarantee free and safe movements of citizens from one part of the country to another

An INTERPOL-led operation targeting malware cyber fraud across Southeast Asia has led to the arrest of three Nigerians, suspected of being involved in global scamming.

All the three were not identified.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the suspects in a sting operation conducted simultaneously in the Lagos suburb of Ajegunle and in Benin City, 300 kms to the east of the commercial capital.

The Nigerian sting operation comes as part of a global operation codenamed “Killer Bee” involving INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and law enforcement in 11 countries across Southeast Asia.

The arrests follows the publication of an INTERPOL Cyber Report linking a suspected syndicate of Nigerian fraudsters operating from the West Coast of Africa to the use of a malicious Remote Access Trojan (RAT) known as Agent Tesla.

The men are thought to have used the RAT to reroute financial transactions, stealing confidential online connection details from corporate organizations, including oil and gas companies in South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the scammers, Hendrix Omorume was charged with three counts of serious financial fraud and has been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment.

The trial of the others is still ongoing.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appre­hended a 32-year-old businessman, Obinna Igbo, for alleged importation and sale of fake Amanta Forte, an unregistered anti-malarial drug.

Mr. Igbo has, however, been arraigned before a Federal High Court on four counts of unlawful importation, possession, sale, and distribution of fake Amanta Forte soft gel (Artemether 80mg + Lumefantrine 480mg Capsules) drug at Head Bridge Market Onitsha, Anambra State.

In a statement signed by the Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, in Lagos on Monday, it was revealed that the defendant allegedly sold the fake drugs atShop E200, Free­dom Line, Onitsha Head Bridge Market after importing them.

Akintola said upon intelligence, Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed that officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the Agency raided three pharmaceutical outlets at Head Bridge Market Onitsha; namely Triphon Point Global limited, Emma Medicals Nigeria Limited and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited and that the offending product was found in Triphon Point Global Limited, and the product was subsequently evacuated while the shop was placed on hold.

She explained further that at Emma Medicals and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited, the shops were visited, and thorough screening was conducted. She, however, said that the offending product was not found being dis­played on their shelves, but their sales books re­vealed that the product was sold by them.

A notorious criminal accused of terrorizing Ibusa community and its environs, has been arrested by anti-crime patrol team in Ibusa Police Divisional headquarters, in conjunction with Ibusa Anti-Cult Volunteers. 

One locally made cut-to-size short gun and seven live cartridges from the suspect identified as Ekene Okonji a.k.a. “galaxy”. 

The Delta State Police Command, led by CP Ari Muhammed Ali confirmed the report in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.

The Police image maker said, “suspect is currently in custody and investigation is ongoing.”

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, granted bail to the detained former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, to the tune of N500million with one surety in like sum. 

Trial Justice Inyang Ekwo okayed Okorocha’s released on bail, after he dismissed a counter-affidavit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, filed against him.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s election, Atiku Abubakar, is considering choosing one of two South-South governors – Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State – as his running mate.

Party sources said Atiku began consultation with the leadership of the party shortly after he won the primary of the party held in Abuja Saturday night.

Atiku, in his previous outing as the candidate of the party at the 2019 election, picked former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as his running mate.

At the time, Mr Obi’s choice annoyed many party leaders, especially those from the South-East, who complained that he was a new entrant to the party and was neither familiar with leaders of the party in the region nor enjoyed their trust.

Mr Obi served two terms as governor on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He retrieved his first electoral victory in court from the PDP, whose candidate, Chris Ngige, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the winner of the 2003 governorship election in Anambra.

To avoid ruffling feathers again with his vice presidential pick, party sources said Mr Abubakar is working closely with Iyorchia Ayu, a long-time ally, and other top leaders of the party on the nomination of his running mate.

According to our sources, the discussions so far have focused on Mr Okowa and Mr Emmanuel, but the Delta governor is said to be the favourite.

Delta State delegates to the PDP National Convention on Saturday voted for Atiku, ignoring the two aspirants from their region, Rivers State Governor Wike and Mr Emmanuel.

This choice was despite Mr Okowa hosting a meeting of southern governors in May 2021 in Asaba at which they demanded in a 12-point resolution that the two major parties pick their presidential aspirants from the south of Nigeria.

Although other key PDP leaders like former governor James Ibori were also believed to have determined the voting pattern of Delta State delegates, the party is giving the credit for the delegates backing Atiku to the governor who they said has been strategic in his management of the party in the state.

Another factor said to favour Mr Okowa in the consideration is his close linguistic and cultural affinity with the South-East, as the Igbo language is spoken in the governor’s senatorial district in Delta State.

Atiku courted Igbo affection in the last election but will be overlooking the area in his choice of running mate this time due to a number of reasons, party sources said.

The immediate reason is that the two governors of the party from the zone – Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu – led their delegates to vote for Mr Wike at the convention. Atiku was however able to pick votes from Imo and Anambra delegates. Ebonyi State’s delegates voted for former Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Party leaders are also said to be concerned about the threat of the socio-political association, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to disown any governor or politician who accepts nomination as a running mate for next year’s presidential poll.

Ohanaeze and other southern socio-political groups, such as Afenifere of the South-West and PANDEF of the South-South, have been vociferous in demanding that presidential power shift to the South after eight years of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency

The apex Igbo social-cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has debunked purported reports in some social media that it vowed to work against presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2023 general elections.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Prof George Obiozor in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonna condemned the act, saying that those behind the fake news are, mischief makers, impostors, charlatans and unscrupulous social climbers.

A Bride-To-Be identified as Mary Hananiah has died in Plateau State few months after her wedding introduction ceremony, NaijaCover Reports.

It Was Gathered By NaijaCover, that Mary passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

The deceased got engaged to her man, DJ John on Valentine’s Day 2022 and they had their introduction ceremony in March.

Meanwhile, Friends have taken to Facebook to Mourn Her, As Sighted By NaijaCover Below:

“My heart is heavy, my eye can’t believe what am seeing on Facebook. Mary my daughter as I usually called you, you promised to come and see me . And I didn’t hear from you again. Only for me to wake up this morning and see Rest in peace on your timeline. Am heartbroken this morning. I can’t believe that am typing REST IN PEACE ON YOUR PICTURE” one wrote

Sam Ohuabunwa, one of the contenders at the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party primary said he is willing to accept any offer to be Atiku Abubakar’s vice in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The businessman revealed on Monday that he is willing to serve the country in any capacity when the opportunity arises.

Ohubunwa’s dream to be PDP’s candidate to run against the All Progressives Congress and other political parties was dashed at the primaries that saw him secure the least vote on Saturday.

Atiku, Nigeria’s ex- VP secured the highest vote of 371, Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike was second with 237, Bukola Saraki the former Senate President secured 70, while Udom Emmanuel who is the Akwa Ibom State Governor got 38 votes.

Bala Muhammed, Bauch State Governor secured 20 votes, while Anyim Pius Anyim and Ohuabunwa got 14 votes and one vote respectively.

Both candidates who secured the least votes are from the South Eastern Nigeria, a region clamouring to hold the top position for the first time since 1999.

But losing the primary has left the pharmacist and founder of Neimeth Pharmaceutical to scramble for the VP Post.

Ohuabunwa said, “The issue is that as I said in 2019, there is nothing new, it is the same system. We cannot pretend that it is just a new development,” he told Channels TV.

He added, “But the issue is that I have a heart to serve Nigeria willing to make the sacrifice and whatsoever opportunity presents, I will certainly consider it. It is not about me; it is about redeeming this country. It is about creating future for my children and grandchildren. It is about uniting it and making us energetic as a globally competitive nation that will be at peace with itself and respected.

The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Enugu State on Sunday explained that it rejected the desperate moves by the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu to “hijack” the party’s governorship ticket.

The party’s position followed speculations around Ekweremadu’s political future following his withdrawal from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship primary election in Enugu last week.

The state chairman of the party, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah who briefed newsmen in Enugu on Sunday, said the party rejected the pressures mounted by Ekweremadu on the APC in Abuja to grab its ticket.

He, however, said such a move would never work, describing it as evil.

Agballah added: “Ekweremadu is a man I have great respect for. We have held discussions, on the need for him to come and join us as a member of the party, the same way I met other persons.

“I reached out to him before our primary, but he informed me in the presence of the Southeast chairman of our party, that we should give him our ticket for governorship position.

“Even after our primary, he is still insisting that we should give him ticket.

“And I’m baffled because his demand is repugnant to natural justice, at variance with the Electoral Act, which he is one of the makers.

“His demand is evil, ignoble, shows that a man does not change his colour.

“He is in court claiming that he was subverted during the PDP primary, but the same man is now running up and down, disturbing us up and down, mobilizing Senators to prevail on our national chairman to subvert the Electoral Act.

“The Electoral Act is clear, nobody can give him a waiver to undo what we did.

“Uche Nnaji is our candidate; he emerged after a primary election duly observed by INEC.

“We want Ekweremadu to be our member but we cannot give him our governorship ticket. These are some of the things that give bad image to Nigerian politicians.

“Ekweremadu wants to be governor but the position was not even zoned to Enugu West, but he wants to take Enugu East turn. Now, he wants to come and subvert APC, where I am the chairman. And I ask, what kind of a man is Ekweremadu, who is this Ekweremadu?

“He is not a member of APC and he is demanding our ticket, is he now blinded by ambition. If I see him in my party, I will treat him like a mad man.

Unidentified gunmen attacked the premises of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Awada, Onitsha station today May 30.

The gunmen stormed the premises at about 4.30am and burnt two of the operational vehicles used by the station.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said no life was lost in the attack.

”Following a distress call today 30/5/2022 at about 4:30am of a case of arson in Anambra State Broadcasting Station Idemili North, the Police Operatives responded swiftly and prevented the hoodlums from causing damage on the structure. 

Unfortunately two of operational vehicle belonging to station was affected. No life was lost. 

Meanwhile, the station has been cordoned off and Operation is still ongoing in the area. Further development shall be communicated please.”Tochukwu said

An explosion in Kabba, Kogi State, has thrown residents into confusion.

The incident was said to have occurred opposite Mannajot Petrol Station on Sunday evening, with a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people feared injured. 

Details of the blast are still sketchy but a security source linked the bomb explosion to the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād.

ISWAP had in April claimed responsibility for an attack on a police station in Adavi Local Government Area of the state.

During the attack, three policemen were killed while the station and two vehicles were burnt.

The latest development comes a few days after about three persons were confirmed dead and many others injured in an explosion that occurred in Kabba.

Saharareporters had reported how military intelligence showed that ISWAP is moving towards the Southern part of Nigeria

Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra, and Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy, are set to contest the presidential ticket of the Labour Party (LP).

TheCable understands that the national convention of the party is set to hold on Monday in Asaba, the Delta capital.

A source in the party told TheCable that Obi and Utomi are the two leading presidential candidates of the party.

On Friday, Obi, a presidential aspirant, joined LP hours after announcing the resignation of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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The former Anambra governor said his decision to join LP aligns with the interest of Nigerians across different sectors, adding that he wants to take the country from consumption to production.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family,” Obi had said.

Utomi, co-convener the National Consultative Front (NCFront), is one of the stakeholders creating awareness on the need for a third force that will break the dominance of two major political parties in the country.

The Ambazonian soldiers were said to have crossed into the Nigerian community near Bashu in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State to attack their compatriots who fled and refused to join them to intensify the fight against President Paul Biya government. A pro-independence movement fighting for self-rule in South-West Cameroon, Ambazonian Boys have killed at least 20 people in a community in Nigeria.
The Ambazonian soldiers were said to have crossed into the Nigerian community near Bashu in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State to attack their compatriots who fled and refused to join them to intensify the fight against President Paul Biya government

THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control,NCDC,has reported 21 confirmed cases of Monkeypox with one death from nine states and the Federal Capital Territory,FCT. This came as it activated Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre to strengthen in-country preparedness and contribute to the global response.The NCDC,in a statement late Sunday night by its Director General,Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, mentioned the nine states asAdamawa with five cases, Lagos with four cases, Bayelsa and Delta, Cross River,FCT and Kano with two cases each while Imo and Rivers states with one case, respectively.