IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Shawulu Ebenezer Danmanman, has paraded 12 suspects accused of vandalizing government property in Minna and other parts of the state.

Speaking at a press briefing in Minna, Danmanman explained that the suspects were arrested on January 24 and 25, 2025, following reports of miscreants exploiting the ongoing infrastructure upgrades to steal public property.

The first group of suspects, Shamsudeen Ibrahim (19), Abba Shuaibu (24), and Faisal Aliyu (18), all from Limawa, Minna, were apprehended with tools such as streetlight cables, diggers, hammers, and cutters.

The second group included Khalid Shehu (18), Ibrahim Lawal (21), Gambo Umar (18), Mohammed Lawal (24), and Magaji Garba (31), who were found with burnt electric armored cables.

In a separate incident on January 7, 2025, four more suspects—Ibrahim Aliyu (32), Kabiru Adamu (35), Mohammed Alfa (23), and Basiru Hamidu (28)—were arrested in Masuga village for vandalizing aluminum conductors. They were caught with approximately three rolls of aluminum conductors, covering about 80 kilometers.

All suspects are currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna.

Under pressure Heartland Queens will throw in everything in her for the much sought after three points against nextdoor neighbours, Abia Angels in the oriental derby slated for the hallowed chamber of the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The derby is the 2024/2025 NWFL Premiership matchday 3 game. 

Prior to Wednesday's dugout, the premier leaguers experienced mixed fortunes in matchday 2 games. While the Owerri landladies succumbed 1-2 to the superior fire power of the reigning champions, Edo Queens in Owerri, the Angels from Umuahia, the quiet capital city of Abia state, were imperial in their three unanswered goals thrashing of former champions, Nasarawa Amazons right there at their backyard in Umuahia.

In the immediate past season both neighbours campaigned in the same eight-team Group A, while the Owerri mainstreams thrashed her oriental sisters home and away and went ahead to play in her maiden premium Super Six playoffs in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, the Umuahia side, nay Aba side then, practically sweated in her panties to avoid the drop on the last day match of the season.

In the buildups for the ongoing season, both topflights participated in the topmost preseasons, Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) in Benin City and Sheroes Cup in FCT, Abuja but somehow managed to avoid a potential fierce faceoff by some whiskers.

However, things look prettier for the Angels at the moment than their auspicious hosts, after two rounds of matches in the two-week old topflight, the Owerri side are haplessly without a point in her kitty while the Umuahia side are up high on the ladder with princely three points.

Apart from the mixed experiences and fortunes, there are other factors that will come into play to shape the direction the pendulum will swing on Wednesday. Last season, the helms woman at Abia Angels, Adanna Nwaneri, who is on a second missionary journey right there at the Umuahia Angels, was a deputy to the gaffer at Heartland Queens, Obi Ogbala. In the Umuahia side's rosters can be found severally capped and dressed Owerri side's players still frolicking and enjoying the lollypops.

The Owerri side gaffer, Ogbala, not known for too many words, and who plays the heart game with his selection for each match, is surely going to come up with a potent lineup that will give him victory and the very first points of the season. Of late, he has been juggling with the experienced and youthfulness, the experiment is likely to continue but this time around will certainly achieve the desired result.

Victory for the Owerri side against her oriental neighbours, Abia Angels will be a huge boost to her next week long road trip at the 2024 Sheroes Cup winners and two-season campaigners, Remo Stars Ladies in the NWFL Premiership matchday 4 game in Ikenne, Ogun state. 

Heartland Queens Media

Victoria Ogunremi, a Nigerian-American based in New Jersey, returned $5,700 she discovered in the restroom at her workplace. Her act of honesty has been widely praised by her employer, colleagues, and the money’s owner, who expressed immense gratitude.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Ogunremi revealed that her decision was driven by empathy for the person who lost the money and her strong Christian values.

“I didn’t hesitate because my faith teaches me that honesty brings peace of mind. The thought of the distress this loss could cause inspired me to act,” she explained.

Ogunremi located the money’s owner before notifying her workplace management, who commended her integrity. She noted that her late father’s teachings on morality have shaped her life and emphasized the importance of instilling such values in future generations.

“Whether someone is watching or not, doing the right thing matters. A good name is priceless, and peace of mind is golden,” Ogunremi said, adding that honesty always outweighs material gain.

Her selfless act has been celebrated as a testament to integrity and compassion, offering a shining example of doing what is right even in challenging circumstances.

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) released a report on Monday alleging that the results of the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election were manipulated to favor the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

In the report published on its website, FIJ claimed the election was marred by several irregularities, including voter suppression, violence, and result falsification. The investigative report implicated both the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The report highlighted issues in Etsako West Local Government Area, where the APC was declared to have secured 32,107 votes, compared to 17,483 votes for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). FIJ alleged that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the collation results from the area was marked as a “Replacement Copy” and lacked the official INEC stamp seen on CTCs from other LGAs.

Furthermore, the report claimed that the collation process at the Auchi Council Hall was disrupted by gunfire on the morning of September 22, causing the loss of important electoral documents.

FIJ also accused APC figures of orchestrating voter suppression in opposition strongholds and pressuring INEC officials to manipulate results during the collation process. Additionally, it was alleged that many polling units failed to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for electronic result transmission, leading to manual collation in some areas and increasing the chances for manipulation.

PDP governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo previously described the election as "the worst election in the history of this country." While the APC and INEC have denied the allegations, Ighodalo accused both INEC and the police of actively collaborating with the ruling party to rig the election. The PDP has since filed a legal petition challenging the results, citing violations of the electoral act and widespread irregularities.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has instructed its officials to present valid identity cards to access the premises, signalling a move to tighten security at the complex. The development comes in the wake of ongoing controversies following the impeachment of the speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

Our correspondent who visited the Assembly complex on Monday, said although there is currently calm in the area as plenary resumes today, a notice to staff signed by Omotayo Adekemi on behalf of the Ag. Clerk of the House, Taiwo Ottun stated that, “Regarding management directives, all staff members and legislative aides must present valid identity cards to access the House premises. Ottun emphasised that entry will be denied to anyone without a valid identity card.

He said the Lagos State Police Command has also promised to maintain order in the state irrespective of what transpires at the assembly. The new directive is coming two days after Obasa broke his silence, insisting that he remained the speaker until the due process was followed. Obasa was removed by the majority of House members on January 13, 2025, following allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation. He was subsequently replaced by the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

Meanwhile, members of the Lagos State House are expected to hold a plenary session Monday. Today’s plenary will be the third session presided over by Meranda since Obasa’s removal, with the former speaker absent at the last two sittings.

Timileyin Ajayi, accused of murdering Salome Adaidu, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Ajayi was arraigned on Monday before Justice Simon Aboki at the High Court of Justice in Lafia, facing a charge of culpable homicide punishable by death, as stipulated under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

The suspect was reportedly found in possession of the severed head of Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Although Ajayi initially admitted to committing the crime, stating that he acted after discovering Adaidu was allegedly unfaithful, he entered a plea of not guilty during his court appearance.