Owojela's Blog-Latest Naija News and Gist

The Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), has officially joined the race for the office of the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) has expressed confidence in Femi Gbajabiamila’s ambition to become Speaker of the ninth House of Representatives, describing him as the best candidate for the position.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has neutralised a Boko Haram commander, Malloum Moussa and 15 of his foot soldiers during a clearance operation on Lake Chad Island. According to a statement by Col. Timothy Antigha, the spokesman of the task force on Sunday, troops destroyed five gun trucks belonging to the terrorists during the operation.

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, told his players that beating Tottenham, was more important than playing well. The Reds needed a Toby Alderweireld own goal to beat Spurs 2-1 and move back to the top of the Premier League.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 8,916 senior police officers to their next substantive ranks.

Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Aviation has reacted to Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila’s (APC-Lagos) declaration to run for the office of the speaker of the Ninth assembly.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reacted to ‘plan’ to probe Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and AbdulAziz Yari (Zamfara), once their immunity ends.

Innoson Group has vowed to takeover Nigeria’s financial institution, GTBank.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it will not condone lateness by candidates to its 2019 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scheduled for Monday, April 1.

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, weekend, paid an unscheduled visit to the long-abandoned sports monument and rich heritage of the state – the Enugu State Games Village – located at Awgu, the headquarters of Awgu Local Government Area.

The National leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the alleged anti-poor and anti-masses recruitment requirements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Sen. Kabiru Marafa, representing Zamfara Central, says Gov. Abdul’azeez Yari, has offended God for insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) conducted party primaries in the state.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Saturday organised a special prayer session at the Kano Central Mosque for the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje administration as he is about to enter into his second term in office.

The Federal High Court in Lagos State has given the go-ahead to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in its suit seeking: “an order for leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN to disclose the names of the contractors.”

The Senator representing Zamfara Central District in the National Assembly, Kabiru Marafa, has advised the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to stand by the truth as regards the party’s 2018 October’s botched primaries in the state.

The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 23 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has described as gratifying, the recent warning of All Progressives Congress, APC, leader, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, against the removal of Value Added Tax otherwise called VAT.

The apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Sunday called on President Muhmmadu Buhari to remove the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar. Spokesperson of Ohanaeze, Chuks Ibegbu said Umar lacked the “moral ground” to head CCT.

The Director General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Major General Suleiman Kazaure has said that the increment of allowances for Corps Members will be considered as soon as the minimum wage increment was sorted.

Three men suspected to be kidnappers have rejected a N9,000 ransom offered them by a poor woman in Okpoko, Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, in exchange for her husband, Mr Chikodili.

Logs of wood worth hundreds of thousands were today burnt to ashes following a fire outbreak that gutted Damaturu wood depot. The sudden fire outbreak at the temporary wood depot occurred shortly after the Friday prayer.

Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, has admitted he misses facing rival Cristiano Ronaldo, as the former Real Madrid forward gave “prestige” to LaLiga.

Manchester United midfielder, Ander Herrera, is seriously considering a lucrative three-year offer to join Paris Saint-Germain, once his contract at Old Trafford expires in the summer, ESPN reports.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, Friday, arraigned two suspected fraudsters, Feranmi Isaiah Akinluyi and Sogo Akinola, a.k.a Obaje, before the Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Capital of the State.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, on Friday disclosed that he wrestled with “principalities and powers” and not against human beings during the just concluded governorship election in the state.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Friday, upheld the nullification of the re-election of Ovie Omo-Agege, the Senator representing Delta Central district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Lagos State on Friday urged the state Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to be a father to all residents and prioritise alleviating suffering of the people.

Justice Adebowale Candide-Johnson of an Ikeja High Court on Friday, declared HRH Rilwan Akiolu as the bona fide Oba of Lagos.

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday, said that Nigeria was sitting on a time bomb if it doesn’t create jobs.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be a leader of all Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, explained why he chose to observe Jumaat prayers at the Presidential Villa and not the National Mosque in Abuja.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Friday discountenanced and refused the no-case submission made by the defence counsel of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.

The Biafra Nations Youth League (BNYL) has faulted the arrest order against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

A former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, leadership.

Innoson Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle production company, has instituted a move to take over Guaranteed Trust Bank, GTB, following a ruling by the Supreme Court over the bank’s N8.7 billion indebtedness to the company.

Donald Trump's administration announced Tuesday it was speeding up plans to send US astronauts back to the Moon, from 2028 to 2024, calling for a "spark of urgency" to prevail over delays that have plagued NASA's lunar return plans.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SERAP made the claim at the launch of the results of a report of a national survey entitled “Nigeria Anti-Corruption Performance Assessment Survey”. The event took place in Lagos. SERAP came up with the 57-page report in collaboration with UKAID.

The Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has promised to correct the mistakes he made in government during his second term in office. According to Vanguard, Ortom made the promise after being declared the winner of the supplementary governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a press statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Mohammed Shehu, the police said Sunail was reported missing at the Tsafe Divisional Police office by one of his colleagues, Dr. Li Dong.

Paul Onuachu’s Early Goal Raises Uncertainty Over The Fastest Goal Ever In Super Eagles History. Nigeria vs Egypt: Paul Onuachu’s Debut Goal Gives Super Eagles Bragging Right.

A former presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili, has won the Forbes Woman Africa Social Influencer award. Mrs. Ezekwesili received the award at the Forbes Woman Africa Awards inaugural gala dinner which held in Durban, South Africa recently.

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), one of Nigeria’s leading banks, on Tuesday congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the renewal of his mandate by the electorate.

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday urged Governor Gboyega Oyetola to shelve any plans for appellate review of a judgement that sacked him as governor last week. The election petitions tribunal for the September 2018 governorship election in Osun State declared Ademola Adeleke winner of the election in its March 22 ruling.

Atiku Abubakar has hailed President Donald Trump for his breakthrough in the extensive investigation of alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 elections.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has alleged that the deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the state, Akpo Yeeh, was bribed with N200 million by Governor Nyesom Wike to defect from the AAC.

Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kante, has insisted he will remain at the club, even if Zinedine Zidane calls him up to try and persuade him to sign for Real Madrid. Kante is currently on France international duty, where he was asked to comment on speculation linking him to the Spanish giants.

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of instigating violence in Kano. Chaos erupted after Governor Abdulahi Ganduje was declared winner of the rerun held on Saturday.

The Enugu State Governor and Governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Monday, embarked on pre-contract inspection of roads within Enugu metropolis preparatory to immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has given an update on the health of its officer attacked by suspected political thugs in Benue State. Owojela's Blog reports that unknown gunmen on Saturday night shot Comfort Dooshima, INEC Collation Officer for Gboko Local Government Area in Benue State.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Human Rights Advancement Development Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC) on Monday launched a report on human rights assessment of 2019 elections.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Prof. Aliyu Jauro as the new Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Lagos State governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has spoken on the alleged rift between him and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Gboyega Akosile, his spokesman, in a statement on Monday, described the relationship between the duo as a cordial one.