News

The federal government yesterday defended its choice of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), while also revealing plans to immortalise the former COAS, late General Ibrahim Attahiru and others that perished in a plane crash about a week ago in Kaduna State. Defending its choice, the government insisted that contrary to public opinion, the appointment of Yahaya, who resumed duty yesterday, was based on national interest and not on ethnic and religious sentiments. Also yesterday, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, charged the new COAS to build on the legacy of…

The governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi Friday dissolved his cabinet, the first since he took over in 2015. Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kenneth Ugbala, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting. Ugbala said only 23 out of the 106 members of the council were retained. He added that the dissolution will come in phases. “The governor took the decision in order to reorganize the council for optimal performance”, he said.

Civil rights group, One Love Foundation, on Friday, tackled President Muhammadu Buhari, for appointing a junior northern officer as the Chief of Army Staff. Global President of the group, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor, in a statement said the President’s refusal to appoint a COAS from the south-eastern zone of the country shows lack of sensitivity to equity and national unity. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff following the tragic death of the former COAS, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash last Friday. Both Attahiru and…

The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed the certificate forgery case the All Progressives Congress, APC, and one of its members, Mr. Williams Edobor, filed against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. In a unanimous decision, a five-man penal of justices of the apex court, held that the Appellants failed to prove their case against Obaseki. The apex court said it found no reason to set-aside the concurrent judgements of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which earlier dismissed the allegation that Obaseki tendered false credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in aid of…

Major General Faruk Yahaya formally resumed duties as the nation’s 22nd Chief of Army Staff on Friday. Yahaya tooK over during a ceremony held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. On arrival, he first inspected the guard of honour at the sentry from where he proceeded to the conference room. Before the commencement of the programme, he led others to observe a minute silence in honour of his late predecessor and 10 others who died in a plane crash last Friday. Journalists were thereafter asked to leave the venue.

The Nigerian army says it has killed seven operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) during a raid on their camp in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. The raid was a joint clearance operation with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The army in a statement on Thursday night said five operatives of ESN, the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), were arrested while arms and ammunition were recovered from them. The statement reads: “6 Division in conjunction with Keystone, DSS and NSCDC led by…

The Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says 76 corpses have so far been recovered from the boat mishap that occurred in Tshohuwar Labata village in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The Area Manager of NIWA in the state, Birma Yusuf, disclosed this to Daily Trust on Friday, saying the search operation was still ongoing as more corpses were expected to be recovered. The corpses recovered had floated to the shore of River Niger near where the ghastly accident occurred. Yusuf lamented over the authority’s poor equipment for rescue mission. He said that the authority had the expertise for…

Retirement is dangling on 30 Army Generals who are members of courses 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) following the appointment of Major-General Farouk Yahaya, who is of course 37 as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS). In the military tradition, if a junior General is appointed as the army chief, Generals who are his seniors are retired. President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, named Yahaya, who hails from Sokoto State as the replacement for the late Army Chief, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru. Attahiru and 10 other military officers died last Friday in a plane crash, while on an…

Women officials and executives of People’s Democratic Party, and the 17 LGA women’s leaders of Abia State has praised the dedication and commitment of Uko Nkole towards the growth and development of Abia state through his continuous support to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the state's chapter of the party. The Abia PDP women leaders stated this during a solidarity visit to Hon. Uko Nkole, who is also the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency in the house of representatives at his Umuhia residence. Intimating the lawmaker on the essence of the visit, the women leader of the party in the state,…

The Member Representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku in the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo has assured children in his Federal Constituency of protection and care necessary for their well‐being. The Member of the House of Representatives communicated this on the occasion of the celebration of the Children's Day 2021. Children's Day is celebrated on 27th May, every year in Nigeria. Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo said the Child's Rights Law having been passed and signed into law does not only prescribe this but also stipulates that the best interest of a child must be of paramount consideration in all actions. He made…