Current News In Nigeria Today 31 December 2018

A councillor, aged 37, representing Ward 9, Ado Ekiti LGA, Ekiti state, has been shot dead by assassins.

The councillor, Hon Deji Akeredolu, who was also an aide to Mr Deji Ogunsakin, the running mate of the Ekiti PDP gubernatorial candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola, was accosted by men of the underworld around 10p.m. at the Onala area of Ado Ekiti.

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechuwu, told journalists on phone that he had not been properly briefed on the incident.

The Director, Strategic Communications, President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), says the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has a sealed indictment waiting for him in the US.

According to Keyamo, “The day he visits the US, not as a candidate in an election, he will face charges”.

Keyamo said this in a statement on Sunday while reacting to allegations levelled against Buhari on Etisalat and keystone bank, by Atiku’s campaign team.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has warned Nigerian youths to shun money rituals.

He said youths who cling to the illusion that they could become wealthy by killing people or stealing female underwear for ritual purposes, would no doubt face the consequence.

He added that the behaviour was abominable and alien to Benin customs and tradition.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State has described the death of Mr. Abayomi Ayeola, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibeju Lekki Federal Constituency of the state as a “great loss” to the party and the state at a period like this.

Ayeola, who had won the primary election for the third term under the platform of APC, to contest in the 2019 general elections, reportedly died at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, Sunday, afternoon after a brief illness.

Three policemen attached to Ijanikin Division in Lagos State have been dismissed from the Force for robbing a Togo-based Nigerian, Theodore Ifunnaya, of 350,000 CFA (about N221,508).

The Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs), namely: Sgt. Gbemunu Afolabi, Sgt. Afolabi Oluwaseun and Cpl. Adigun Omotayo, were dismissed over corruption charges.

Lagos State Police Command Spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the dismissal on Sunday, stressing that another policeman, an Inspector, involved in the crime was recommended to the AIG Zone 2 for dismissal.

The military has said there is an ongoing plan to relocate the residents of Baga in Borno State, a town that recently came under the attack of Boko Haram insurgents.

The military said the planned relocation is to give room for massive bombardment of the terrorist group and to prevent civilian casualties.

The military however said that there was no basis for the people of Bama, Dikwa and Monguno to vacate their respective communities as there was no immediate threat to them.

The PDP has embarked on a new strategy as part of its measures to secure Katsina State votes for its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The PDP named the strategy as “PDP Sawuta” campaign project.

Unveiling the campaign strategy in Katsina on Sunday, the PDP Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Majigiri, said that the party was set to deliver the state for Atiku on February 16 as it would secure the governorship and other elective positions.

Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has kicked off the second-term bid campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari with a donation of 18 buses to the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation.

The governor handed over the buses to the local government chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 18 councils in the state, while hosting leaders and members of the party to an end of the year party in Owo.

Akeredolu urged the chairmen to make good use of the buses and ensure that they mobilised people for the next general elections.

All is now set for the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari in Anambra State today for the Idegwu festival.

Those expected in his entourage are the Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as well as Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige.

The host is Governor Willie Obiano, while former Chief of General Staff (CGS) in Nigeria, Ebitu Ukiwe would be the special guest of honor.

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has been given a grant of $6 million to execute a World Bank project under the aegis of Africa Centre for Excellence, funded by the World Bank. This money is renewable within a period of four years.

FUTO was rewarded with the said sum after ranking 10th among the 132 universities that contested in the World Bank-organised research competition.