The Harbingerngr News

ONE died while two  sustained injuries in multiple crashes on Ota-Idiroko Road, yesterday. The Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Anthony Uga, confirmed the incident in Ota, Ogun. Uga said the unfortunate incident, which involved three vehicles and eight persons, happened about 7.20 a.m. He said a  blue mini truck, with number plate, BDG 340 XZ and a truck with no registration number collided with an Iveco tipper with number plate, AAA 969 ZY, that broke down while descending a slope from Idiroko side of Arobieye, Iju bridge. The FRSC boss said the two vehicles plunged into Iju river in the process, resulting in the death of one person, while two others sustained injuries. “The corpse of the victim had been deposited at Ifo General Hospital  morgue while the survivors are receiving treatment at Ota General Hospital,” he said. Uga blamed the accident on mechanica                                                                                                                             

A 12-year-old boy, Ibukun Solomon, has narrated how his mother, Tayelolu, killed his father, Felix, with a pestle while sleeping, after a minor argument in Ondo town, Ondo State. It was gathered that the mother of three reportedly killed her 65-year-old husband, a farmer, by hitting him thrice with pestle while he was sleeping in their house at Government Reservation Area, GRA,  in Ondo town. It was gathered that the couple in recent times have been having crisis and the wife was always threatening to kill the husband and elope. It was learned that after another argument last weekend, the deceased went to sleep on the chair and the wife reportedly hit him several times with a pestle. Narrating how his father was killed, lbukun told newsmen: “My mother killed my father with a pestle in my presence and took to her heels. She used the pestle to hit his head when he was asleep. “Earlier on the fateful day, a minor argument had ensued between them that resulted in a fight. After the fight,

*Situation worsens despite intervention ==Touts return as Police, LASTMA look on lLagos summons stakeholders’ meetinglGridlock worsens  DESPITE the ultimatum by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State ordering  sanity along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, truck drivers and touts, yesterday, dared the governor to evict them. It will be recalled that Governor Sanwo-Olu, last Friday, carried out an inspection tour of the axis with an ultimatum to the truckers to vacate the road or face the consequences. Despite the partial compliance on Monday, the traffic situation has worsened as touts returned to the Mile-2 axis unchallenged by the Police and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA. The truck drivers, who claimed to have settled everyone involved in the traffic management along the route, are daring the Lagos State government to address the problem by tackling the root cause and other contributory factors, adding that truck drivers are human beings too.      We’re suffering un

The Ogun State Police command, yesterday, arraigned the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state, Wale Adedayo, before an Abeokuta Magistrate's Court, following a petition by the state government. It will be recalled that Adedayo was arrested by Police operatives at his residence in Ijebu-Ife, Ijebu East and immediately transferred to the command’s headquarters in Eleweran, where he spent the night. Adedayo is appearing before a magistrate's court at Isabo, Abeokuta, on a petition by the state government over allegation of diversion of funds meant for councils in the state. He was arraigned on a two-count charge. The petition, which accused Adedayo of deliberately circulating falsehood, false report to government, threat to life and interference with the exercise of executive function,” was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi. The two-count charge read: “That you, Adedayo ‘m’ on August 27, 2023, at Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Mag

*Says their bond has grown stronger through thick, thin President Bola Tinubu has showered encomium on his wife and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, saying through all the years of being together, they have shared in the uncertainty of dangerous, but principled stands against tyranny.  The President said many can not fully appreciate the sacrifices Senator Oluremi has made for the family during the harrowing, dark era, but that he would always appreciate it. President Tinubu in a felicitation wish to his wife as she marks her 63rd birthday anniversary said the bond two of them share has only grown stronger through thick and thin, adding that their love and commitment to each other has only deepened with time.  He said, “Happy 63rd birthday to the love of my life, Oluremi. My trusted partner in every venture, and the one special person who has consistently filled my days with joy and laughter over 36 amazing years.  “Today is not only a day to mark another year of your purposeful lif

A federal court sitting in Chicago has ordered that Chicago State University, CSU, turn over all records relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Atiku Abubakar within two days and certify its authenticity under oath. This is as the court rules that the former vice-president has been able to sufficiently satisfy the purpose for seeking the records. According to the ruling sighted by Peoples Gazette, Judge Jeffrey Gilbert also ordered a deposition of designated CSU officials within two days after the records have been released, noting further that the process can be conducted during the weekend if necessary.  Gilbert ruled that, "For all of the reasons discussed above, Atiku Abubakar's application pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 for an order directing discovery from Chicago State University for use in a foreign proceeding [ECF No. 1] is granted. "Respondent CSU shall produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to requests for production Nos. 1 through 4 (a

THE horror caused by the perennial Oshodi-Apapa Expressway gridlock continued, yesterday, with the traffic snarl stretching to Second Rainbow bus stop.  Commuters wailed as the Task Force set up by Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu to clear the traffic and Ports Police appeared helpless. More than one week ago, Governor Sanwo-Olu directed the Lagos State Special Committee on Apapa Traffic to clear the gridlock within 24 hours. So far, the directive has not been carried out. Meanwhile, truckers under the aegis of Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations, COMTUA, have commended Vanguard Newspapers over its investigative report detailing extortion points along the Oshodi-Apapa expressway and environs, describing it as true and verifiable. The truckers spoke as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Maritime Police Command, AIG Susan Akem-Horsfall, said the gridlock along Coconut to Second Gate of Tin-can Island Port is surmountable  Disclosing that she had been under the weather, sh

The naira yesterday depreciated to N970 per dollar in the parallel market from N955 per dollar on Tuesday.   However, the naira appreciated in the Investors and Exporters, I&E, window yesterday to N776.6 per dollar.  Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the I&E window fell to N770.71 per dollar from N776.6 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating N5.89 depreciation for the naira.  Consequently, the gap between the official and parallel market exchange rates widened to N199.29 per dollar yesterday from N178.4 per dollar on Tuesday.

lForex, uncertainty hinder importation — Marketers lPrice of diesel, now N1,100 per litre adds to pressures lAviation fuel rises to N1,000 per litre lAnalysts call for further govt measures lImportation may end Dec 2023 — Marketer THERE are indications that pressures are mounting on pump price of petrol as the landing cost has risen by 19.3 per cent to N596.93  per litre as at yesterday, from about N500 per litre in July 2023, when the last pump price adjustment was effected across all retail outlets in Nigeria. Petroleum marketers attributed the development to continued rise in crude oil prices in the international market as well as exchange rate volatility in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market which was N970 to the dollar yesterday. Vanguard had reported that the rise in crude oil prices by 7.5 per cent to $85.89 per barrel in August 2023, from $79.92 per barrel in July 2023, depreciation of the Naira to N775/dollar in the official market and inflation, standing at 22.79 per cent, com

*Review singer’s hospital treatment, fish out killers — Osun youths; *Nollywood actresses visit Lagos CP, call out Sam Larry, Naira Marley; *Falana seeks coroner’s inquest; Narcotics council wants Naira Marley suspended as NDLEA ambassador AS controversy continues to trail the death of singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, protesting fans in Lagos, Osun and Delta states took to the streets, yesterday, to demand justice. On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters rallied in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Akure, the Ondo State capital, seeking justice for the late singer. The Afrobeat singer died last Tuesday aged 27 under what many termed mysterious circumstances, prompting the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to order a “thorough” probe by the Lagos State Police Command. Protesters came out en-masse in some areas of Lagos State with one of the protests starting from the Alagbado axis of AIT Road and moving to the Command area, then to Ile-Iwe in Meiran. The ra

ADEBOLA Akin-Bright, the 12-year-old boy with missing intestine in Lagos State, is dead. The mother, Abiodun Deborah, disclosed this yesterday. It was gathered that Adebola died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. It will be recalled that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State visited Adebola and pledged to cover his medical care and expenses. This was after the boy’s mother pleaded with the governor to probe the disappearance of her son’s small intestines, which according to her, occurred while the boy was receiving treatment at LASUTH. The hospital management, however, denied the allegation in a statement made on its profile on X, on August 12, 2023. Earlier, the Lagos State House of Assembly had said that anyone who is found culpable in the case of the missing intestine of Adebola Akin-Bright would be prosecuted in due course.

 AN Abuja High Court  has sentenced a public officer, Dr. Abubakar Danraka, to life imprisonment for rape (sodomy) under section 1 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, (VAPP ACT) of 2015. Trial judge, Justice A. Akanbi-Yusuf handed the sentence, having found the convict quilty.  The convict, Abubakar, a former Chief Pharmacist of National Hospital, Abuja, and Senior Special Adviser (Technical) to the Director of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, was arrested on March 27, 2020, for defiling a minor. Director-General of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Fatima Waziri-Azi, yesterday, hailed the judiciary for its doggedness in ensuring that justice was served. Reacting to the judgment, she said: “I want to specially commend the judiciary for its sustained collaboration and support in the implementation of the VAPP/law in the country, which has culminated in this landmark judgment. This is a victory for us as a c

* Says FG spending 96% of revenue on debt servicing unsustainable THE new chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has explained the reason  Nigeria is in a revenue crisis and requires urgent steps to change the narrative. Adedeji, who stated this while taking over the mantle of leadership of the agency from his predecesor, Muhammad Nami, noted that about 96 per cent of Federal Government revenue was spent on debt servicing last year, stressing that the situation is not sustainable. This is even as the former chairman of the revenue agency, Nami, said the FIRS generated N8.5 trillion revenue into the federation account as at mid-September. Recall that one of the main reasons  government removed subsidy from petrol is inadequate revenue to run the affairs of the country. Adedeji said:  “We are in revenue crisis, government revenue is low amid a huge public debt. Last year, 96 per cent of government revenue went into debt servicing.  “Where debt has grown

*Police confirm 8 deaths, 9 arrested *It’s beyond anti-cultism squad — Force PRO l Gov Abiodun orders crackdown on cultists, imposes curfew RESIDENTS of Sagamu in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State now live in fear, as no fewer than 20 young men, including three secondary school students, were reportedly killed as Eiye and Aiye confraternities resumed their usual supremacy battle in the town. It was gathered that the supremacy battle started last Friday.In gory videos and photos shared online by residents, some of the victims of the attacks were seen lying in the pool of their blood, with one of their hands cut off by the assailants. To douse the tension in the areaa, a detachment of police was deployed to the troubled spots. A resident of Sagamu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented that the town had been on the edge since last Friday as people go about in fear, so as not to be victims of stray bullets from the cultists. The source listed Agbowa behind Ewusi Palace, M

*Fleece drivers, allow indiscriminate parking, *Motorists demand state of emergency on road *Why LASTMA isn’t visible at Oshodi-Apapa Exp gridlock axis — GM *Gridlock from Tin-can ports — NUPENG  TANKERS and trucks for about a week running have blocked the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway from Second Rainbow bus stop to Tin Port following the inability of the joint task force on Apapa-Oshodi traffic gridlock, comprising Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA; and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to manage the traffic situation. The drivers claimed that they have paid all the agencies concerned but the development has led to a total collapse of business activities along the stretch of the road. Vanguard observed that the joint task force had completely failed to curb the excesses of the tanker drivers for over one week running as the chaotic traffic situation worsened. The situation came to a height, yesterday, as motorists and other road

 THE management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ile in Osun State and the Students' Union Government, SUG, are on logger heads following the school's decision to introduce a new school fee regime. The institution increased school fees payable by both freshers and returning students from N20,100 and N28,100 for returning students to N89,200 and 101, 200. The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, in a statement, explained that new students in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities will pay N151,200, while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200. Olarewaju stated that the new fee, which was approved by the University Senate after its meeting on Tuesday, is payable for an academic session. The statement reads: "For those in the Faculties of Technology and Science, the new students will pay N163, 200 and the returning students of the same faculties are to pay N101,200.  "In addition, the new students being admitted into

THERE are indications that exchange rate crises that trailed the foreign exchange market reforms in June 2023 may linger further as supply gap led to further depreciation of Naira in the parallel market yesterday to N930/ $1, down from N925 mid last week. However, the exchange rate improved week-on-week in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window to N758.1 from N775.6 The prevailing exchange rates indicates a rising parallel market premium which is the gap between the parallel market rate and that of the I&E window. The gap, as at last week Wednesday, was N153.41 per dollar, but has risen to N171.9 per dollar by yesterday, a development which has created a huge incentive for round-tripping and arbitraging in the foreign exchange market ecosystem. Moreover, market observers have also noted that the Bureau de Changes, BDCs, have not helped the market as envisaged a month ago when the segment was re-admitted into the Central Bank Of Nigeria, CBN, official trading window for the pu

*Urges new cabinet members not to disappoint Lagos residents GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, yesterday, charged his new cabinet members to ensure the delivery of the developmental agenda of the administration to residents of the state. The governor, who also charged the cabinet members to reflect excellence in the discharge of their duties, expressed optimism about a better society, saying, "I see a bigger Lagos rising. " Sanwo-Olu spoke after the swearing-in of the 38 newly inaugurated Commissioners and Special Advisers, held at Adeyemi Bero, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. The state House of Assembly had earlier confirmed the nominees sent by Sanwo-Olu for confirmation.  In his address, the governor said: "This event is historic. The members of the state Executive Council have been painstakingly chosen. They are emblems of what Lagos is all about. "Meeting the target is not an option. You must reflect excellence in your duty with the best inter

One person, a yet to be identified young adult male, was reportedlydied in a lone accident, yesterday,  involving a truck with unknown registration number at Otedola Bridge, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, after falling off the bridge. The accident resulted in gridlock for long hours, as motorists were directed to use alternative routes to avoid being caught in the traffic. According to the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Authoritily, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the accident occured when the truck driver was descending the hill from Mobil filling station, inward Otedola Estate while trying to avoid collision with another vehicle. Oke-Osanyitolu, added that in the process, the driver, lost control and crashed into the side of the bridge.  In the process, the truck over turned  with some of the product (wheat) spilling on the road and blocking the entire route under the bridge inward Otedola estate.  “A young adult male, one of the occupants of the truck fel

*Victims've spent 26 days in kidnappers’ den *Parents, families resort to prayers, fasting Kidnappers of eight Akwa Ibom  State graduates, abducted in Zamfara State on their way to Sokoto State for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Orientation Camp, have demanded an additional N200 million as ransom, after collecting N13 million earlier paid by the victims' families. The victims, who were kidnapped on August 17, have spent 26 days in the kidnappers den. Meanwhile, frustrated families have resorted to fasting and prayers on the fate of their children. A brother to one of the victims told Vanguard on condition of anonymity, yesterday, that the abductors were also demanding N200 million additional ransom to release the seven corps members and the Akwa Ibom Transport Company, AKTC, bus driver being held captive. The source, said: “We don’t know how we are going to raise that kind of money. Everybody was shocked when two parents, who have been over there since the incident hap