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Ministerial Screening: Aregbesola Holds Senate Spellbound, As He Outlines His 8-Years Administration Achievements In Osun

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Former governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Monday got a rousing welcome in the senate chambers as he reeled out his achievement as governor in the land of the virtue.

Ogbeni Aregbesola who started by recognizing the leadership of the senate, senators from Osun, former progressive governors in the Senate, as well as party leaders in the South West stated that his past 39 years post-academic experience had prepared him for a life of service.

“The past 39 years of post-qualification experience in professional, leadership, and resilience with a huge dose of politics has prepared me for a life of service. I believe that power is responsibility and should be used for the welfare of the people.”

He further went ahead to reel out the achievement of his administration saying, “the United Nations Development Program, UNDP and the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS Human Development Index Report released in October 2018 shows that as at October 2010, Osun Poverty Index was 37.5%, but by 2016, Osun’s Poverty Index had crashed to 17.5%, the lowest in the country.

“Out of school Children reduced from 12.8% in 2011 to 10.5% in 2016 according to the UNICEF Multiple Indication Cluster Survey, 2016/2017. According to the NBS report on JAMB Admissions, in the last 7 years, Osun has ranked top 3.”

On security, the former governor says Osun recorded 0.94 crime incidence rate, being the lowest in the South West of the country. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola also used the opportunity to explain to the senate how his administration was able to weather the financial crisis that ravaged the nation which did not leave out his state.

“I must hasten to add that I and my administration faced lots of criticisms while in government, partly due to ignorance and partly due to mischief. One interesting topic of misrepresentation is salary 7 pensions payment. Yet, while many states were unable to pay a penny to workers for many months, it was never so in Osun.

“What we did was to devise a method of modulated salary & pensions payment by which the most vulnerable workers earned their full pay. This applied to workers on Levels 1-7, who accounted for about 72% of the workforce. Those on Levels 8-12 earned 75% of their salary & pensions, while only those on Levels 13-17 earned 50%.

“I am happy to say that from July 2018, we commenced the payment of full salaries & pension to all workers before I left the office and the practice continues till today. In 8 years, We received a total gross allocation plus IGR of N332,928,683,766.46, of which we paid Salaries, Pensions & Gratuities worth N209,375,950,193.71 representing 62.9% of our total earnings on personnel cost alone.” The former governor stated.

Responding, former governor of Imo and Senator Representing Imo South, Sen. Rochas Okorocha eulogized the nominee, describing him as a man who used power for the good of the people.

In the same vein, Sen. Elisha Ishaku Abbo representing Adamawa North of the PDP gave a touching story of how Ogbeni had supported him in the past when he wanted to contest as chairman of his local government without knowing him from anywhere. He, therefore, asked his colleagues to allow him to bow and go whilst also imploring the president to give him a ‘big ministry’.

Two APC senators from Osun, Sen. Surajudeen Ajibola Basri, and Sen. Oriolowo Aderele Adeyemi Oriolowo spoke glowingly of the nominees describing him as their leader, an achiever, a mentor and benefactor and should be allowed to ‘bow and go’.

Meanwhile, the senator representing the nominee, Sen. Francis Fadahunsi, PDP Osun East seconded the motion as moved by the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP Abia South for the nominee to ‘bow and go’.

Meanwhile, earlier during the screening of a ministerial nominee from Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, a former governor in Imo, Sen. Rochas Okoracha suggested that the presidency unbundles the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing to allow for effectiveness and efficiency in the provisions of essential services to the populace.

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BIG STORY

Equitorial Guinea Sacks Senior Government Official, Baltasar Engonga Over “Sexcapade”

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The Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been dismissed following the discovery of over 400 explicit videos involving him with high-profile women across the country.

The dismissal, ordered by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, was confirmed by Real Equatorial Guinea, which referenced Decree No. 118/2024, issued on November 4.

According to the decree, Engonga’s removal was due to alleged professional misconduct and personal behavior deemed incompatible with his public position.

The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation involving the 54-year-old economist, leading to a surprise search of his house and office by ANIF officials.

During the search, they uncovered several CDs containing explicit videos that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

One of the women involved has since committed suicide. It has not been confirmed whether Engonga will face prosecution for his actions.

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BIG STORY

Kaduna Government Gifts N100,000, Smartphones To 39 Released #EndBadGovernance Protesters

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The Kaduna State government has provided N100,000 in cash, new smartphones, and additional support to 39 #EndBadGovernance protesters who were recently released from detention.

The government facilitated their reunion with their families on Wednesday, following their release from detention.

The reunion ceremony took place at the Children Homes along Kauru Road in Kaduna, where Governor Uba Sani offered support to the protesters, promising to assist them in reintegrating into society.

He assured them of opportunities for empowerment, contingent upon their commitment to lawful and responsible conduct.

Speaking to journalists after the release of the protesters, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Abdulkadir Meyere, who represented the governor, revealed that Sani had instructed him to gather the credentials of those who have completed their tertiary education.

‘’The governor promised that some of them will be given start-up capital to begin trading, others will be taught skills, and some will be offered employment,’’ he said.

However, the SSG emphasized that the activities and conduct of the released protesters would be monitored to ensure they maintain good behavior, “before these benefits will be extended to them.”

Meyere also noted that the state government had taken the details of the released detainees, including their contact information, telephone numbers, and the names of their Next of Kins, to facilitate tracking and monitoring.

He further explained that the protesters underwent medical evaluations and received psycho-social counseling to encourage them to make positive changes and become productive members of society.

“Both Islamic and Christian religious leaders preached to them to embrace the teachings of their faiths and avoid bad company, so as to benefit from God’s blessings here and in the hereafter,” he said.

Meyere added that the detainees were each given a phone because they had lost theirs during detention, and ‘’the Governor has graciously given each of them N100,000 as a measure of goodwill.”

The state Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, also addressed the protesters during the reunion, emphasizing the government’s commitment to their welfare.

She stated that the 39 protesters, including two minors aged 16 and 17, had received various forms of support from the government.

“We want you to be ambassadors of peace and preach peace within your peer groups, so you won’t be involved in any unlawful protests.

“We want you to return to a more peaceful environment with your families, and then we can invite you back for further training,” she said to the released protesters.

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BIG STORY

Two Robbers Gunned Down, 23 Suspects Arrested In FCT

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has killed two armed robbers during a gun duel and arrested four others in the Jahi area of the nation’s capital.

Additionally, no fewer than five car snatchers were arrested, and 13 stolen vehicles were recovered during operations carried out by the FCT command’s Scorpion Squad.

Speaking on Wednesday while parading the suspects in Abuja, FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, said the armed robbers opened fire on October 21 after seeing police officers who had responded to a distress call about a robbery in the Jahi area.

According to Disu, during the ensuing gun battle, the police neutralized two of the armed robbers, recovered two of their vehicles, and arrested two suspects, Haruna Abdullahi, 32, from Ikara LGA, Kaduna State, and Yerima Usman, 28, from Itoro LGA, Bauchi State.

He said, “Upon sighting the police patrol vehicle, the suspects opened fire, and in the ensuing confrontation, two suspects were neutralized.”

Disu added that after a follow-up operation on October 23, the suspects led police operatives to arrest two additional gang members—Abba Ismail, aka Dan-Abba, and Ashiru Suleiman—who had escaped from the scene.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of a gang of armed robbers led by one Dan Auwalu, who is still at large. So far, they have carried out armed robberies in Mabushi, Jahi, and Gishiri. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining gang members,” he stated.

Disu also identified the arrested car-snatching suspects as 32-year-old Arji Thomas from Gwoza LGA, Borno State; Amobi Ndukwe, 40, from Awgu LGA, Enugu State; and Amaechi Sampson, 26, from Imo State.

He said the trio—Thomas, Ndukwe, and Sampson—are members of a notorious car-snatching gang led by one Chidiebere, who is currently on the run.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended just as they were about to sell a stolen blue Toyota Corolla with registration number KTW 2155D.

“It is important to note that both Arji Thomas and Amobi Ndukwe are ex-convicts. During interrogation, they admitted to operating in Garki for the past year and a half, claiming responsibility for numerous car thefts within the metropolis,” Disu added.

Disu also explained how Joseph Abang was arrested. He said one Philemon Olaoluwa reported at the Central Police Station that his mechanic, Abdulhamid Saidu, had absconded with his car—a 2006 ash-colored Honda Accord with registration number RBC 40—after repairing it and taking it to Jos.

He added that Saidu, who is still at large, handed over the vehicle to Abang, who confessed to being part of a gang of car thieves operating in Abuja, Plateau, and Nasarawa states.

Disu said, “Extensive investigations led police operatives of the Central Police Station to Jos, Plateau State, where Joseph Abang was arrested. During interrogation, he informed the police that he belonged to a gang of car thieves who operated in Jos, Abuja, and Nasarawa State.

“He specializes in receiving, remodelling, and selling off vehicles stolen by his gang members. During a search operation at his residence and place of business, two additional vehicles—a Hyundai Accent and a Peugeot 208—suspected to be stolen were also recovered from him. He is in custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.”

Disu also revealed that a Toyota Hilux with registration number 03A309 FG, stolen by a newly employed security guard, Usman Abubakar, was recovered. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect.

Disu explained that the vehicle, owned by Mr. Frank Udah, was stolen on October 7 by Abubakar, who had only been employed for three days. Preliminary investigations revealed that Abubakar took the vehicle to Nasarawa State, where he handed it over to two other gang members, who have since been arrested and are facing trial for another offence in Nasarawa State.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the security guard, who had been employed for barely three days, stole the said vehicle on October 7, 2024, and took the same to Nasarawa State where he gave the vehicle to two other gang members who were arrested and currently facing trial for another offence in Nasarawa State. While the vehicle has been recovered, efforts are in place to arrest the suspect, Usman Abubakar, who is still on the run,” Disu stated.

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