The Harbingerngr News

THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, has expelled former Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over alleged anti-party activities. Aregbesola and the APC in Osun have been at loggerheads over issues of anti-party activities during the 2022 governorship poll in the state and the 2023 general elections. The APC in Osun State claimed that Aregbesola's actions fueled internal divisions, with party leaders asserting that his influence on certain groups has caused significant discord. Following the resolution of Aregbesola's suspension to the National Secretariat, a response of the leadership to the APC in Osun State endorsing his expulsion was sent to the former governor through DHL on Friday, January 24, 2025, to his Ilesa residence. The letter which was dated January 7, 2025, which was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the State chapter, Tajudeen Lawal and Kamoru Alao, stated that Aregbesola has been suspended effective immediately. The letter, which was ad...

LEADERS of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, including Pa Rueben Fasoranti and Pa Ayo Adebanjo, were divided over the appointment of a rights activist, Mr Dele Farotimi, as the Organizing Secretary of the organisation. Recall that the Pa Adebanjo group, at its meeting held in Ijebu-Igbo on Tuesday, appointed Farotimi as the Organizing Secretary. This came despite the previous appointment of Otunba Kole Omololu by the Fasoranti-led group in Akure, Ondo State. But, a statement titled 'Pa Fasoranti remains Afenifere's true leader', and signed by Omololu, kicked against the appointment of Farotimi. Omololu said there is only one Afenifere, which is headed by Fasoranti, noting that any appointment made by any group masquerading as Afenifere is null, void and of no consequence. The statement reads: "It is important to clarify that there is only one authentic Afenifere, which remains under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti.  "This body continues...

 A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, struck out the criminal defamation suit filed against human rights lawyer, Mr Dele Farotimi, by the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola.   The court's decision followed a notice of discontinuance filed by the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu. Recall that Aare Babalola had earlier pardoned Farotimi after the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other prominent Yoruba monarchs.   The police prosecutor filed the notice of discontinuance, dated January 29, 2025, to withdraw the defamation suit against Farotimi. In his ruling, Justice Babs Kuewunmi struck out the case after the defence accepted the notice of discontinuance.  Speaking with journalists after the ruling, the defendant's lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, confirmed that Farotimi had agreed to the discontinuance, but noted that other cases were still pending in different courts. Accordin...

A 32-year-old psychiatric patient at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu, Miss Nzubechi Igwe has allegedly been raped by a staff of the hospital and subsequently declared missing with five months pregnancy. The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Ngozi Unogu, however, refused to make comment on the scandal despite being bombarded for response by newsmen. Narrating the ordeal, the elder brother of the victim, Mr. Israel Igwe, said her young sister, Nzubechi, has been experiencing some psychiatric symptoms to which her family sought urgent medical attention at the hospital  and was admitted on August 9, 2024. Israel said while her sister was at the hospital  he visited her often and was monitoring her  progression and providing the necessary things that were required. He said: “One night while my  sister was within the hospital premises, one security man at the hospital accosted her, lured her to a corner, in threatening violence and had non-consensual sexual ...

*Says fanatics aim to destabilise Yoruba land THE Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, yesterday, condemned an attempt to introduce Sharia in the Southwest, stating that it is alien to Yoruba culture and religious beliefs.  Speaking at the 2025 Oodua festival, held at Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife in Osun State, Adams stressed that the introduction of Sharia is aimed at destabilising the Yoruba land by religious fanatics and fundamentalists.  He emphasized that while Saudi Arabia is an Islamic kingdom where Sharia aligns with religious teachings and  accepted, Nigeria remains a nation where the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. He said: "Saudi Arabia is a good example of an Islamic kingdom that practises Sharia law according to the Holy Quran. The Saudis also adhere strictly to the law, and they are happy because Sharia law is in tandem with their religious beliefs and teachings.  "However, Nigeria is a secular nation where the constitution allows every...

AN Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo,  has revoked the bail granted Prof. Ignatius Uduk, a University of Uyo, UNIUYO, don who is facing trial for alleged electoral fraud during the 2019 general elections. The court also issued an arrest warrant against him. Trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, took the decision in response to an application by the prosecution, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that prayed for the bail to be revoked, after the court adjourned for judgment and a second day absence by the defendant in court, as well as his counsel, George Ezeugwu. INEC, under Mike Igini as Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Akwa Ibom State, had opened prosecution of Uduk, Professor of Human Kinetics, who served as a Collation/Returning officer for Essien Udim State Constituency during March 2019 elections, on three amended count charges of abandonment of duties, publishing/announcing of fake election result scores and lying on oath. While another UNIUYO Profe...

*Directs affiliates, state councils to mobilize workers, allies *Threatens to escalate protest to national strike, if … As part of its mobilization against the planned 50 per cent telecom tariff hike, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has resolved to hold a nationwide protest on Tuesday February 4.  The NLC in an emergency National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting yesterday, directed all its affiliates and state councils to begin full mobilization in preparation for the protest. It also urged willing civil society allies to join the preparation and called on  Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against what it described as unjust policy. The communique issued at the end of the meeting, read by NLC president, Joe Ajaero, read:  “NAC-in-session totally rejects the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike which it considers  too harsh for citizens. It, therefore, strongly condemns the Nigeria Communications Commission’s decisi...

Four persons were confirmed dead while several others sustained injuries, following an explosion that rocked Sabo area of Owode, in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. It was gathered that the incident occurred on Monday night when a scavenger, popularly known as ‘bolar bolar’, inadvertently triggered the explosion while dismantling a metal object. The explosion, which rocked the community, is believed to have originated from the metal object being handled by the scavenger. The force of the blast caused immediate casualties, with four persons reported dead at the scene. The source further said that several others sustained injuries of varying degrees and were promptly rushed to the General Hospital, Ilaro for urgent medical attention. Local authorities and emergency responders reportedly mobilised to the scene to manage the aftermath of the explosion. The immediate cause and nature of the metal object that triggered the explosion are currently under investigation by relevan...

A two-storey building in Mega Mall Estate, Inikpa area of Ajah, Lagos, collapsed yesterday, leaving two persons dead.  Identities of the deceased, an adult and teenager, could not be immediately ascertained.  South West Coordination of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident at about 9.07pm , yesterday.  He said five persons were rescued from the debris. He could, however, not give further details on the collapse, saying "responders are on search and rescue."

...by popular Lagos hotelier A 16-yr-old secondary school student in Lagos has allegedly ran mad after confessing that he was sexually molested by a popular Lagos hotelier at Bucknor, Isheri Oshun area of the state. The incident, which rattled his parents reportedly started before last Christmas when the student confided in his mother that he had a confession to make before the New Year.    The mother obliged her son of confidentiality only to raise alarm after the boy told her that the owner of a popular hotel in the area lured him and four of his fellow students to his hotel and sodomised them and warned them that if they disclose it to anybody, they would die.    The shocked mother of the estranged teenager said few minutes after her son opened up to her, he started misbehaving by talking to himself like a mad person. According to father of the boy, a spare parts dealer at Ladipo auto spare parts market in Lagos, Edozie Christian, 44, “My son started behaving like...

A Gwagwalada Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, has remanded two lovers, Mohammed Nazifi and Bilkisu Ibrahim in the Suleja prison, pending sentencing on January 29,  after they were convicted for adultery. The magistrate, Olatunji Oladunmoye, ordered that the convicts be remanded in prison, following their summary trial, in which they pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of adultery, yesterday. Both Nazifi, 30, and Ibrahim, 25, who reside in Gui Village  Airport Road, Abuja, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. Nazifi told the court that he was not aware of Bilikisu’s married status. While Nazifi admitted to the court that their sexual intercourse was mutual, he, however, pleaded with the complainant to forgive him, and for the court to show him mercy. Ibrahim,  who corroborated Nazifi’s statement, told the court that though she had consensual intercourse with him, she did not disclose her marital status to him. “I am aware that under any custom, it is ...

THE pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, advocated for the licensing of Amotekun personnel in the South West to carry lethal weapons to tackle insecurity. The group in a communique after its meeting held in Akure, the country home of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, expressed concern over the influx of bandits. The communique by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said that granting of license “can be done preparatory to the setting up of State Police.” It reads: “Afenifere advocated for the licensing of states’ security networks code-named Amotekun in Yoruba-speaking states to carry lethal weapons. “This can be done preparatory to the setting up of State Police. “Afenifere also called for greater cooperation between Amotekun corps and other security agencies.  “Command and Control posts should be installed across all the local government areas so that information can be shared in real-time as is done in many developed and not-so-develop...

Mojisola Meranda was appointed Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, following the impeachment of Mudashir Obasa over several allegations of fraud. Meranda, previously serving as Obasa’s deputy, was sworn in immediately after his removal. This historic development makes Meranda the first female Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly. Here are five key facts about the lawmaker representing Apapa Constituency 1: Early Life Born on August 16, 1980, Mojisola Meranda hails from the prominent Akapo family in Lagos. Family Background The 44-year-old legislator is a descendant of royal lineage. Her late father, Chief Taoreed Lawal-Akapo, served as the Ojora of Lagos between 1977 and 1993. Her mother, Princess M.A Lawal Akapo, belongs to the Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru royal families. Education Meranda began her education at St. Charles Nursery and Primary School and later moved to Randle Primary School in Surulere (1986–1992). She attended Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School...

Resumes office as Lagos Assembly speaker Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, has officially resumed office as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly as she was accompanied to her new office by the lawmakers, except former Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa. Following the formal ceremony,Be Meranda and the lawmakers posed for photographs, just as the lawmakers praised the Speaker and urged her to continue her work. “Madam, continue your work; your work is appealing to us. You are the Speaker, you are the Speaker, you are the Speaker. “Speak for Lagos. Continue with your work,” they chanted. After the accolades, the lawmakers followed Meranda to her official office, where intense prayers were offered as she settled into her new role. Meanwhile, security has been strengthened around the Lagos State House of Assembly to ensure a smooth and peaceful plenary session. Avoid banana peels, Mamora tells Speaker Meanwhile, a former Minister of Science and Technology, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora, has urged th...

 THE Catholic Bishops of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province have urged the Federal Government to shift from short-term palliative measures to sustainable empowerment strategies that would make life meaningful for the masses.  Asking government at all levels to tackle the fundamental structures that have deepened inequality and poverty in the country, the bishops said there is a need to focus on long-term solutions that will empower Nigerians to achieve financial independence and dignity. The bishops expressed their concern in a communiqué issued at the end of their first plenary meeting for 2025, which reflected on issues affecting the church and the nation. The meeting, which comprises Lagos Archdiocese, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta Dioceses, was held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland in Lagos at the weekend. The communiqué, which was signed by the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, as chairman and the Archbishop of Ijebu Ode, Most Rev. Francis Adesina, as secretary...

...but progress of Nigeria THE presidential candidate of the  Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday, declared that he will not join any coalition focused on seizing power. Obi spoke on the sidelines of the national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja. The LP leader said politicians should think of the future of Nigeria and how to develop and grow the country rather than focus on merely grabbing power. He said: “For me, what is important is: let’s discuss Nigeria,” Obi said when asked if he would join a coalition. “Whether we are going to do coalition (or not) … let’s talk about the future of the country. But often we abandon the country and begin to talk about power grab. “I’m not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria. How do we care about securing the Nigerians? How do we care about the common person in Nigeria? How do we care about our children being in school? That is the ...

*Why I rejected pleas from OBJ, Kukah—ABUAD founder *As Obi, Afenifere commend Babalola, Yoruba monarchs FOLLOWING the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other prominent Yoruba monarchs, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola has agreed to drop all criminal defamation suit against human rights activist, Mr Dele Farotimi. The traditional rulers arrived on the campus of Afe Babalola University, located on the outskirts of Ado-Ekiti, at about 10:30 pm, on Sunday, evening and immediately proceeded to a closed-door meeting with the legal luminary, who was on hand to receive them. Other prominent Yoruba traditional rulers, who were on the entourage of the Ooni of Ife were, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro; the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado; the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Adebayo, and the Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Emmanuel A...

Say our members ready for deployment As Amotekun nabs 21 suspected kidnappers, others in Ondo FOLLOWING the report that fleeing bandits and terrorists from the North were heading to the South West, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams; some security groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC and the Hunters’ Association, yesterday, slammed governors of the region for not collaborating with them to secure the zone. Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State raised the alarm over the influx of fleeing bandits from the North-Central to Southern Nigeria, especially the South West. S-West govs yet to respond to my request —Gani Adams Speaking with Vanguard, Iba Adams, yesterday, disclosed that the South West governors are yet to respond to his requests to partner with the state security architectures to get rid of terrorists and bandits across the zone. Adams, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said Yoruba land will be too hot for terrorists...

A Gwagwalada Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, has remanded two lovers, Mohammed Nazifi and Bilkisu Ibrahim in the Suleja prison, pending sentencing on January 29,  after they were convicted for adultery. The magistrate, Olatunji Oladunmoye, ordered that the convicts be remanded in prison, following their summary trial, in which they pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of adultery, yesterday. Both Nazifi, 30, and Ibrahim, 25, who reside in Gui Village  Airport Road, Abuja, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. Nazifi told the court that he was not aware of Bilikisu’s married status. While Nazifi admitted to the court that their sexual intercourse was mutual, he, however, pleaded with the complainant to forgive him, and for the court to show him mercy. Ibrahim,  who corroborated Nazifi’s statement, told the court that though she had consensual intercourse with him, she did not disclose her marital status to him. “I am aware that under any custom, it is ...

*As NAPTIP rescues 9 pregnant girls from baby factory in Abuja THE Federal Capital Territory,  FTC,  High Court sitting at Gudu, presided over by Justice Adebiyi Osolo, has sentenced the founder and Bishop of a popular church in Abuja, Bishop Kenneth Duke, to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for rape. The 52-year-old convict, an indigene of Cross River State, was dragged to court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old daughter of one of the church members, who was entrusted to the care of his family. NAPTIP, meanwhile, said it had rescued nine pregnant girls at a suspected baby factory located in one of the sprawling estates in the Ushafa area of Abuja. The convict was arraigned in court on November 2, 2023, on a two-count charge of rape and intentionally causing emotional and phycological abuse on the victim. According to the charge, in March 2023, the convict, who lives behind the Danta...

 A suspected internet fraudster died shortly after he underwent money rituals in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. Peter Albert’s death was a tragic turn of fate. The 20-year-old suspected internet fraudster had longed for the good things of life but lacked the means to acquire them. To achieve his desires, he sought the counsel of one of his friends, an 18-year-old simply identified as David, who introduced him to a Muslim cleric, Alfa Araokanmi, for a money-making ritual that eventually terminated his life instead of transforming him into an overnight millionaire as assured by Araokanmi. According to insiders, Albert, who lived with his father in the Asore area of Atan, and his friend, David, who lives with his parents at Iju, both in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have been friends for a long time and attend the same church. Exasperated by his unsuccessful rounds in internet scams, Albert reportedly asked David to help him become successfu...

*Says he has not been paid before he was arrested A 22-year-old Precious of Oroakpo community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, has admitted to the police that he sold one of the triplets of a family in the community for N200,000 to two Yahoo boys, who later killed her in the area. Precious who was paraded alongside the elder sister of the triplets by the Police  said the remains of the little girl were buried in a shallow grave in the community, adding that at the time he was arrested by community youths, he had not been given the N200,000 promised him by the Yahoo boys. He said: “They are triplets about 10 years old and sisters to my girlfriend (pointing at his girlfriend standing beside him). I first told my girlfriend that she should give me one of the triplets to sell to the boys but she refused, walked away from me. I went to her again.  “But later I sent somebody to call one of the little girls, when she came, I led her to the boys who killed her in th...

Abasifreke Joseph A Corps member, Miss Abasifreke Joseph, kidnapped on January 9, along Enugu-Ezike Road, on her way to Kogi, said  she faced torture and hunger in the hands of her captors. Joseph who was released on January 13, gave the narration when Mr Sam Pepple, the NYSC Coordinator in Akwa Ibom visited her She said: ” I spent five days and five nights at the kidnappers’ den without water and food. The corps member said that she and other hostages were beaten, left without food and dispossessed of their mobile phones and other valuables “I was posted to Kogi for national youth service, I reported at the orientation camp, and was sworn in on Nov. 29, 2024. “I became sick while the orientation course was ongoing, so I got the permission and approval of the Camp Director to travel home for medical attention. “I was returning to Kogi on Jan. 9, the incident happened at about 4.30p.m along Enugu-Ezike Road in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area,” she said. Joseph said that while t...