The Federal Government on Tuesday evacuated another batch of 107 Nigerians stranded in Libya in continuation of its rescue operations to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the North African country.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affaires en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the evacuees would arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have successfully carried out four evacuation exercises, repatriating about 700 stranded Nigerians from Libya in 2023 already.

107 stranded Nigerians departed Misrata International Airport aboard chartered flight No.UZ189 at 13:15 local time and are expected to arrive [at] the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, same Tuesday evening.

Among the evacuees are 49 males, 48 females, eight children and two infants.

Musa said, Nigeria, with the support of the IOM, will continue to intensify efforts to rescue, protect and ensure the safe return of all stranded migrants in Libya.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for emerging as the winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State.

The state returning officer, Prof Mohammed Mele said Fintiri of PDP scored a total of 430,861 to defeat Sen Aishatu Ahmed Binani of the APC, who polled 396,788.

Reacting on his Twitter page, Atiku said Fintiri deserved re-election.

He also thanked the people of Adamawa State for resisting coupists and enemies of democracy.

His tweets, Congratulations, Gov Ahmadu Fintiri, on your deserved reelection as governor of Adamawa State. Thank you to the people of Adamawa and men and women of goodwill for staying the course in resisting coupists and enemies of democracy from having their way.

The lesson from this exercise and others is the need for Nigerians to be vigilant and never give in to anti-democratic forces whose objective is to snatch, run with and undermine the mandate of the people as freely expressed in their votes.

By the way, it is not yet Uhuru as we still have one more major mandate to reclaim, and together as ONE, we shall accomplish the task for the good of our country and its people.

The trial of the alleged N3 billion fraud charge brought against Ali Bello, nephew of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, and three others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been adjourned to May 30 and 31.

When the matter in the suit marked ABJ/CR/573/2022 (FRN Vs. Ali Bello and 3 others) was mentioned for hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution, led by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, called their first witness Mr Nicholas Oyemomoni, from the American International School, Abuja.

The witness could not, however, complete his testimony as the defence team, led by Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, objected to documents, that the EFCC sought to tender in evidence through the witness.

He, however, prayed the court to allow him to raise the objection in the final written address while admitting the documents provisionally.

Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, objected on the ground that the documents could not be provisionally admitted.

Aliyu, therefore, asked the court to allow him to address his point of objection to the documents before the documents would be admitted in evidence.

Based on health grounds, he asked the court to allow him to argue his objection at the next adjourned date.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu consequently adjourned the matter to May 30 and 31, 2023 for the continuation of trial.

The court had on 20th February granted bail to Ali Bello, alongside three others, in the sum of N500 million.

The Imo State Police Command on Tuesday said security operatives had driven out Eastern Security Network agents from their camp in the Ubah Ages/Izombo tropical forest in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

A statement signed by the spokesperson of the command, Henry Okoye,
reads:  [We acted] on carefully gathered actionable intelligence that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate (ESN), whose modus operandi is guerilla-like operation, that is, they unleash surprise terror attacks and go into hiding in their criminal hideout, have once again reassembled and formed a camp in Ubah Agwa/Izombe tropical rain forest in Oguta LGA of Imo State.

The hoodlums opened fire when they saw police operatives but were driven back by the operatives’ superior firepower and skilful use of positional shooting that forced them to run with varying degrees of bullet wounds.

Okoye asserted that a concerted operation is in high gear to catch the fleeing suspects

The statement further revealed: Three automatic pump-action guns, 31 live rounds of ammunition, 59 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one police hand grenade, IPOB/ESN insignia, blue and black police uniforms, police cap, police belt, military camouflage uniforms, black Tiger 150 motorcycle, red Daylong motorcycle, black KYMCO motorcycle, silver Honda Lady’s motorcycle and black travel bag were discovered in the dislodged terrorist camp and shrine.

While praising police officers and soldiers involved in the operation for their bravery, Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed Barde directed operatives of the Imo State Police Command to continuously raid criminal hideouts and seize illegal weaponry.
He expressed gratitude to Imo citizens for their steadfast support and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to eradicating crime and criminality in the state.

he stated, Well-meaning citizens of the state are urged to be cautious of the people who live in their communities and to report any person spotted with or treating bullet wounds to the local police station or by calling the command’s emergency numbers, 0803773600 or 08098880197.

Nigerian superstar, David Adeleke, aka Davido, released the visuals for his hit song ‘Unavailable’ featuring South African singer, Musa Keys on April 11, 2023.

While the director of the Zulu-themed video, Dammy Twitch was lauded for his artistic prowess, the video has been widely criticized for introducing Davido as the King of Afrobeat.

In the opening moments of the video, a female voice could be heard saying (in a mix of isiZulu and English), Greetings. You are listening to Timeless FM. After a long time of wondering, where is he? And what is he doing? I’m here to confirm that the King of Afrobeat is back baby!

I’m talking about Davido. He’s back with a brand new album. And I’m talking hit after hit. Thank you Davido. Thank you.

Afrobeat vs Afrobeats

The terms afrobeat and afrobeats have long been conflated. While they may appear similar both in writing and pronunciation, they are two distinct genres.

According to Wikipedia, afrobeat (without an “s”) is a West African music genre that involves the fusion of traditional musical styles such as fuji, folk, highlife and American funk, jazz, and soul influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion.

Afrobeats on the other hand is less of a style per se, and more of an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that takes in diverse influences and is an eclectic combination of genres such as hip hop, house, jùjú, afrobeat, R&B, highlife and soca.

The Yobe State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has tasked its members to continue to contribute their quota towards making health services accessible and affordable to people.

NANNM’s Yobe State’s council chairman, Bala Sulayman gave the charge during the association’s congress meeting held in Damaturu.

Sulayman tasked nurses to sustain the tempo of hard work, commitment and dedication to duty.

He advised, I call on you to shun all acts of indiscipline, negligence to duty and acts capable of ruining the integrity of the noble profession.

He assured the people of the state that members of the association will continue to deliver on their mandate by doubling their efforts towards providing quality healthcare services.

The association, through its chairman, appreciated the contributions of the state-owned College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu, and privately-owned Al Ma’ariff College of Nursing Health Science and Technology Potiskum, as well as other institutions for providing a conducive atmosphere for the training of potential nurses and midwives aimed at boosting manpower need in the health sector.

The NANNM chairman commended Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State for continuously offering automatic employment to the graduates of the state-owned College of Nursing Health Science.

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed into law the Bill to provide for a Map for the State and other matters connected therewith.

The new law, which is cited as the Akwa Ibom State Map Establishment Law 2023, was passed during the plenary and is expected to take effect from April 13, 2023.

This followed a report of the Joint Committee on Lands and Housing, Boundary and Conflict Resolution and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, presented by its Chairman, Sir Udo Kierian Akpan (Oruk Anam).

According to the report, the Bill sponsored by Hon. David Lawrence (Eket) will help reduce agitations and communal conflicts, enhance and promote development within the mapped-out boundaries.

The report further stated that The Bill will enhance cultural affinities of the people within the boundaries and make for easy identification and placements. It will also assist in the proper identification and allocation of resources domiciled in the component units.

The report also recommended that all government White Paper on boundary issues across the state be taken into consideration and implemented without delay.

The Bill was co-sponsored by Sir Udo Kierian Akpan (Oruk Anam), Barr. Aniefiok Dennis Akpan (Etinan), Otuekong Nse Essien (ONNA), Elder Mark Esset (Nsit Atai), Hon. Victor Ekwere (Mkpat Enin), Hon. Uduak Odudoh (Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo), Barr. Otobong Bob (Nsit Ubium), Obong Godwin Ekpo (Ibiono Ibom) and Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem (Itu).

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, who presided over the Plenary, has directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Nsikak Orok, to transmit clean copies of the Bill to the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for assent.

Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello has unveiled the state’s Auditor-General, Ahmed Usman-Ododo as his preferred successor.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election will be held on Friday in Lokoja, the capital.

Six hopefuls, including deputy governor Edward Onoja, withdrew from the contest, NAN reports.

They are ex-Finance Commissioner David Adebanji-Jimoh, Ashiru Idris, Okala Yakubu, Abdulkareem Asuku (Chief of Staff) and Accountant-General Momoh Jibrin.

The aspirants stepped down at a meeting which took place at the party’s secretariat and was presided over by Governor Bello.

Chairman of the election committee, Governor Mohammed Bello-Matawale confirmed that a gentlemanly agreement was reached.

The Zamfara helmsman said his Kogi counterpart unveiled Usman-Ododo as his anointed candidate for the November 11 gubernatorial poll.

Matawalle added, All other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s direct primary election.