IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Suspended police officer Abba Kyari and six others have been brought back to court to answer to drug trafficking related offences brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The NDLEA had filed eight counts of hard drugs trafficking against Mr Kyari, who is also wanted in the United States for his relationship with convicted fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.

Those arraigned along with Mr Kyari include Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

Mr Kyari, before his suspension, was a former Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Brazil centre-back Diego Carlos from Sevilla for £26m. The 29-year-old, who was a Newcastle transfer target in January, will travel to England on Thursday for a medical and to finalise personal terms.

He would be Villa's second signing of the summer following the arrival of Boubacar Kamara from Marseille on a free transfer. Carlos played seven times for Brazil at last summer's Olympics. "Sevilla FC would like to thank the player for his work during all these years in Seville and wishes him the best of luck in his new journey," a statement from the La Liga club read.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard recently confirmed central defender Ezri Konsa would miss the start of the upcoming season because of a knee injury. Villa, who finished 14th in the Premier League last season, also completed a deal for Philippe Coutinho to join on a four-year deal from Barcelona earlier in May.

The Attorney-General of the Federation has filed 23-count charges against Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late gospel artist, Osinachi, who died in April after she was allegedly assaulted by her spouse. He was charged under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code which is punishable with death.

The case with charge number, CR/199/2022, was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on May 20, 2022, by the Head, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.

The prosecutor accused the defendant of forcefully ejecting the deceased from the family home, contrary to the VAP Act, adding that he also attempted culpable homicide by pushing Osinachi out of a moving vehicle. The Federal Government further alleged that the defendant deprived the deceased of her personal liberty by restraining her movement and locking her up in the house.

Nwachukwu was equally accused of emotional, verbal and psychological abuse contrary to section 14(1) of the VAP Act, 2015.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Deputy President of NLC, Dr. Nasir Idris has been elected Governorship Candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi state.

Nasir Idris garnered one thousand and fifty five (1055) votes to defeat two other contestants at the party’s primary election in Birnin Kebbi. The chairman of the APC Kebbi governorship primaries (National Secretariat), Hon. Idris Yahuza Ya’akub, declared the outcome of the election in the early hours of Friday.

Senate Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi who was one of the contestants, scored zero vote while the third aspirant, retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Abubakar Mallam secured thirty five votes. In his acceptance speech, the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasir Idris, commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for making it possible for the party to conduct the primary election, smoothly, peaceful, hitch free and transparent.

Dr. Nasir thanked all delegates, APC Members and people of Kebbi State for entrusting him with the leadership position which will entail steering the affairs of the state if elected governor. He pledged to build upon the foundation of societal progress already laid by Governor Bagudu.

The Lagos State People’s Democratic Party Candidate in the 2023 Governorship Election, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor) has approved the appointment of Mr. Gbenga Ogunleye as the Head of Media & Communications for the campaign organization.  

Mr. Ogunleye, a trained journalist with over 15 years’ experience in Media, PR Communications and Publishing is a graduate of Mass Communication with a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Similarly, Dr. Adediran approved the elevation of Mr. Akin Adegebo and Ms Jumoke Olatunji who have both hitherto worked within the organisation's Communications Directorate as Head of New Media and Special Assistant Electronic Media respectively.

Their appointments take immediate effect.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered his remand on Monday following the arraignment of the former governor in court by the anti-graft agency. He also adjourned the case until Tuesday for a hearing of the bail application filed by Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly.

The former governor is being tried on a 17-count charge to the tune of N2.9 billion filed against him by the anti-graft agency. He was accused of conspiring with others, including a member of the APC and five companies to steal from public coffers, although he has since denied any wrongdoing.