JUST IN; CP orders investigation into DPO’s involvement in diversion of electoral materials
JUST IN; CP orders investigation into DPO’s involvement in diversion of electoral materials
The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Augustine Grimah, has initiated a comprehensive investigation into a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) overseeing the ‘B’ Division in Calabar.
This decision comes in response to a viral video featuring a man accusing her of being involved in the diversion of sensitive electoral materials on November 2, 2024, the date of local council elections in the state.
While the commissioner did not reveal the name of the officer, he emphasised the importance of the investigation in addressing these serious allegations.
He urged anyone with pertinent evidence to step forward and assist in the inquiry. In a statement issued on his behalf by SP Irene Ugbo, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Grimah acknowledged awareness of the online video, which suggests that the DPO may have shown favoritism toward a specific political party at a hotel within her jurisdiction during the elections.
“The Command clarifies that the DPO was acting on credible intelligence regarding electoral materials allegedly diverted from the designated polling center at the Women Development Center, Calabar, to a hotel.
“In response, the DPO led officers to recover and secure these materials, ensuring their safe transport to the appropriate voting location.”
The Command has urged the public to remain calm as they intensify their findings, which will be communicated upon conclusion.
I recognise the role my family has played and continues to play in entrenching democracy, good governance, and the betterment of our people. I will never depart from the well-established path of honor, dignity, integrity, and service as personified by my late father.
Please permit me, dear colleagues, to restate my position as expressed in the newspaper publication, where I stated as follows: It is with heavy responsibility that I wish to resign my position as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly with effect from this day, March 3, 2025. I took this decision carefully and with firm consideration. On one hand, I accepted the position of Speaker on January 13, 2025, and on the other hand, I resigned the position as it is threatening the democracy of this House.
As good people of Lagos, our mandate is to protect the good people of Lagos State and ensure good governance.
I feel that I have demonstrated leadership and selfless sacrifice by resigning in order to protect these resources that we have suffered to build. With your unwavering support, I take this step to step down as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
I cherish the solidarity that I have enjoyed and that has been given to me by my honorable members. I do not leave out the management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I want to thank you for your support and collaboration.
As short as it is, this is a memorable event. I need you to permit me to resign as the Rt. Honorable Speaker, and I shall continue to serve my good people of Apapa Constituency 1 in particular and the entire Lagos State in general.
Thank you for finding me worthy to lead this distinguished and honourable Assembly. I am not a quitter; however, I took this bold decision in order to save this legislative institution from further unnecessary conflict and embarrassment.
Police restore Meranda’s security detail, explain withdrawal
Accordingly, I have agreed to yet again make a personal sacrifice by stepping down as the Speaker of this great Assembly.
Dear distinguished and gallant honourable members of this 10th Assembly, occasionally, we are confronted by overwhelming challenges and conflicts, but as responsible leaders, we must not break down the legislative House that we collectively built in pursuit of justice and fairness.
For those who have been unfairly referred to for standing on the side of fair play, kindly take note that there will always be an opportunity to right any wrong.
I appreciate the spectrum of solidarity that I received through phone calls, messages, and visits throughout my short tenure.
I sincerely thank you for your understanding and support, just as we know that party decisions are supreme.
At this point, I take a bow as your Speaker, and I step down as your Speaker for this great House.
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BREAKING; President Tinubu approves 11 Universities (see full list and locations)
BREAKING; President Tinubu approves 11 Universities (see full list and locations)
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its third meeting of the year on Monday, approved provisional licenses for 11 private universities in the country.
Dr Morufu Alausa, the Minister of Education, said this while briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting.
He said the universities approved were: New City University, Ayetoro Ogun; University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Eranova University, Mabushi; Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun Annex and Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara.
Others are: Southern Atlantic University Uyo, Akwa Ibom; Lens University, ilemona, Kwara; Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun; Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos and Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
Alausa said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was Committed to expanding the frontiers of educational opportunities and infrastructure, hence the approval of the new universities. (NAN)
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S3xual harassment; Another Senator reveals eye’s Witness account of what transpired at Akpabio’s birthday
Natasha vs Akpabio; Senator reveals eye’s Witness account of what transpired at Akpabio’s birthday
The Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has vehemently denied the sexual harassment claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
During a visit to his home in December 2023, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, reportedly accused Akpabio of making unwanted attempts toward her. During the visit, Akpabio allegedly offered an intimate relationship while showing her around his Ikot-Ekpene home, she recalled on February 28, 2025, on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’.
When she went to his office to address her move regarding the Ajaokuta Steel Company, she said the identical request was made once more.
However, Senator Nwaebonyi, who was present at Akpabio’s birthday celebration, has denied the allegations.
In an interview on Arise TV on March 3, 2025, he stated that the Senate President did not make any inappropriate moves toward Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during the event, adding that he had no knowledge of the alleged harassment.
“On the issue of sexual harassment as alleged by Natasha, as God would have it, I am an eyewitness, and as I posted on social media, I narrated what transpired. On that fateful day of December 8, 2023, I was among the Senators that attended the birthday ceremony of the Senate President.
“Right from Senator Attah Airport, I drove in the same vehicle with the Senator and her husband. In fact, I was in the front seat while the senator and her husband were in the back seat. We attended a series of programmes with the Senate President within Uyo town. At the end of the day, we moved to Ikot-Ekpene, the hometown of the Senate President.
“I remember very well, as we were coming down from the vehicle, she was complaining about her shoes paining her, and she and her husband (had) to stay back while I rushed inside to join other senators to inspect the building of the Senate President.
“I must tell you for free, and that’s the truth, that Senator Natasha never joined us inspecting the building of the Senate President. She was seated at the parlour with her husband. The Senate President took us around, took us to the chapel, and called those who were Catholic Senators to join him in a Holy Mass.
“We celebrated the Holy Mass and, at the end of the day, ended up in the garden as he hosted us. There was never a time when the Senate President touched Senator Natasha.
“There was never a time the Senate President told Senator Natasha do you like my house? We will come back to have a good time. That never happened, Senator Natasha knows that very well.
“It is disheartening and unbelievable for a Senator of the Federal republic to, out of mere provocation — simply because you were given a new seat and probably your committee was changed — get up to lay a false allegation against a man that is old enough to be your father.
“The Senate can’t act on hearsay. Senator Natasha has never presented any issue before us.”