Femi Kayode Eat Your Heart Out, Fashola Finally Apologises Over Deportation of Igbos

 Governor Babatunde Fashola

After weeks of open confrontation between the Lagos State Government and Igbo ethnic groups over the forced relocation of the latter’s destitute indigenes to Anambra State, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) Thursday, finally apologised to Ndigbo over the misunderstanding that arose from the action of his administration.

The governor, who said: “Ndigbo are my kindred,” however, lamented the depth of underdevelopment, which he said, had been a major challenge of the section of Nigeria that produced such prominent leaders as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Chief Alex Ekwueme and Major General Ike Nwachukwu, among others.

EXCLUSIVE: Air Force Committee Raises Alarm Over Improper Ammunition Dump

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh

The National Assembly  House Committee on the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has lamented the improper storage of armament, weaponry and ammunition at the store of the force in Makurdi, Benue State.

The Committee Chairman, Kenneth Archibong, made this disclosure yesterday after a tour of the NAF Logistics Command Headquarters in Lagos, stressing that the improper storage is a ticking time bomb that could blow up if precautions are not taken. 

Ex-Biafran Soldiers Threaten Showdown over Non-payment of Benefits

Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (SGF)

Veterans of the 1967-70 civil war under the aegis of Biafran War Veterans  Wednesday positioned themselves for a possible showdown with the federal government over what they described as the non-release of their entitlements more than  40 years after the war despite repeated promises by government.

The ex-biafran soldiers threatened to embark on a street-wide protest in Abuja “in the next couple of weeks” if government refused to heed to their demand within a reasonable time, expressing dismay that most of their members have lost their lives because of the absence of reasonable sources of livelihood.

Rising from an emergency meeting in Enugu, the ex-soldiers led by Rt. Col Victor Onah and Barrister Ibe Nwachukwunta as National Coordinator and Attorney respectively condemned the nonchalance of the federal government towards their plight in spite of their contributions to the nation.

Lagos CJ Frees 119 Kirikiri Prison Inmates

 Kirikiri Prison

Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips  Wednesday released 119 awaiting trial inmates from both Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons, Apapa. The released inmates, who have been awaiting trial for as much as thirteen years, include 99 inmates from medium prisons and 20 from maximum prisons with capital and minor offences.

Justice Phillips said the visit was aimed at decongesting the prisons and in exercise of the Chief Judge's powers under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act CAP C40, 2007, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

EXCLUSIVE: Collapsed Building Kills Baby, Octogenarian and Two Others in Lagos

Tragedy struck today in Lagos as yet another building collapsed, killing a four year-old girl, an  octogenarian and two others, with 10 others left with varying degrees of injuries.  Although some victims were still buried under the debris as at this evening, four children, an old woman and five adults have since been rescued through the combined effort of youths in the area and emergency services.

Finally, Security Agencies Nab Kelvin, Kidnap Kingpin

DG SSS, Ita EKPEYONG 

Dreaded kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, was  Wednesday arrested by a combined team of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Army. He was believed to have been behind the   kidnap of the human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), his driver and an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Athansius Ugbome, along Auchi–Benin road late last month.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), spokesperson for DSS, Marilyn Ogar, said Oniarah who was arrested yesterday was a notorious terrorist, kidnap kingpin and armed robber and had been on the wanted list of security agencies.

Nigerian Dies Aboard United Airlines Flight to US

An airplane 

The management of United Airlines has confirmed the death of a Nigerian, Mr. Benedict Sylvester Igwedike, 67, while aboard Flight 143 to Houston, United States of America. The incident, which occurred on Monday night, took place after the aircraft had just finished refuelling at Dakar, the Senegalese capital. The plane had taken off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. But the bad news may have been delayed from reaching the family of the deceased as the airline said it had just contacted his family  Wednesday.

A statement from the airline’s headquarters in Houston yesterday said: “Medical personnel in Houston met United flight 143 from Lagos, Nigeria upon arrival Monday due to a deceased passenger on board. We are assisting the passenger's family with their needs.”

SEGUN ADENIYI: SSS and the Apo Killings

The Verdict, According To Olusegun Adeniyi. Email: olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

By the time my wife came back from the market last Saturday, I had just finished discussions with a respected family residing within the Apo Legislative Quarters who told me categorically that the “Boko Haram insurgents” the State Security Service (SSS) claimed they engaged in a “shootout” were in fact harmless economic migrants known by people within the area. Unfortunately, before I could even share the distressing story, my wife started her lamentation about a particular cart pusher at Garki market who was among the “Boko Haram” people gunned down in cold blood.

EXCLUSIVE: Reps Calls For State of Emergency in Police Barracks

The House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Thursday added its voice to the clamour over the derelict state of police barracks across the country, calling for a state of emergency by the Federal Government and a total rehaul of the facilities.

The Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Usman Kumo, alongside other committee members made this disclosure during an inspection of Mopol 20 Barracks and Area F Command in Lagos.

Acclaimed Dead Shekau Appears in a Video, Says He’s Alive

Leader of the outlawed Boko Haram sect, Abubakur Shekau

The leader of the outlawed Boko Haram sect, Abubakur Shekau, whom the Joint Task Force (JTF) had claimed was mortally injured in a shootout last month and had died somewhere in Cameroun,  Wednesday resurfaced in a recorded video message, threatening to continue his killing spree until democracy is crushed in Nigeria.

EXCLUSIVE: Police Arrest Chinese Fugitive Who has Spent 12 Years in Nigeria

According Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit,  CP TUNDE OGUNSAKIN, On 28th August 2013, the Chinese Government through its Consulate in Nigeria contacted the Nigeria Police, Special Fraud Unit for collaboration to nip a fugitive who ran away from the shores of China to Nigeria.

The Chinese government complained through a letter that Fang Yang and Leng Jiqing, former Legal Representative of Qingdao Sifang Qiaolian Trade Co. Beijin, were wanted for 8million Yen loan syndicated through a fake bank deposit receipt in 1996 to get a mortgage from 2nd Sub Branch of China Agricultural Bank of Qingdao. 

Tension as LAGBUS Driver Crush Soldier

Chief of Army Staff

A yet-to-be identified soldier was Monday crushed to death by a LAGBUS at Alaka-Costain area of Surulere, Lagos,  leaving the deceased's passenger critically injured.

It was gathered that the deceased who was riding a commercial motorcyclist with  a female passenger behind him, was caught between the LAGBUS and the railings of the bridge.