The Harbingerngr News

NO fewer than nine persons were confirmed dead by the Federal Road Safety Commission, Ogun State sector in an accident that occurred around Ayetoro on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in the early hours of yesterday.    Vanguard gathered that three others sustained injuries in the crash. The accident, which occurred about 5:30a.m., involved a Toyota bus with number plate, UYY165ZY, and a truck with number plate, DKA244XC. The bus driver was said to have lost control and rammed into the stationary truck. Spokesperson for Ogun State Sector Command of the FRSC, Florence Okpe, disclosed this in a statement, saying: “The fatal crash occurred in the early hours this morning (yesterday) about 0530HRS on Lagos-Ibadan expressway around Ayetoro area. “A total of 13 people were involved, comprising 10 male adults and three female adults and nine were recorded killed (six males and three females) while three were injured. “The suspected causes of the fatal crash were excessive speed and fatig...

THE National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, Eniola Ojajuni, has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Abuja.      A statement by the National Secretary of the council, Abiodun Aderounmu, said the incident occurred on Monday, February 17.  According to Aderohunmu, the abductors were demanding a N100 million ransom, saying . “The Afenifere National Youths Council is deeply saddened to announce the kidnapping of its National President, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, in Abuja, Nigeria. "The unfortunate incident occurred yesterday, and the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N100, 000,000. During the kidnapping, Prince Ojajuni sustained a bullet wound on his buttock. We are deeply concerned about his safety and well-being, and we urge the kidnappers to release him unharmed. Prince Ojajuni is a prominent figure in Nigeria and a strong advocate for youth empowerment and development.” The group asked the federal government and security agencies to act swiftly for Oja...

*UK-based Nigerian woman linked to their alleged detention  THE Ejigbo Division of the Lagos State Police Command has rescued six children, aged between six and 13 years, from a flat in Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa area of Lagos, where they had been held for an unspecified period.  The police have yet to determine whether the children - four boys and two girls - were kidnapped or trafficked. The rescued children are : Chidimma, 13; Chisom, 12; Ikechukwu, 10; Ifeoma, 9; Emeka, 8; and Oluchi, 6. Investigations according to the Police revealed that a United Kingdom based Nigerian woman whose identity is yet to be ascertained, kept the children in the flat. It was also unclear if the children are siblings.  The Chief Security Officer, Ajibola Lalas, sent a WhatsApp message to other estate residents alerting them of the matter. The message read:  "Kidnapping / Child trafficking within our estate at Zone 23. On Saturday, February 15, 2025 , about 7am, a distress call was receiv...

Convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has told the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, that he was prepared to surrender all his property as part of a plea bargain agreement should the court consider his application on compassionate grounds In his application for a plea bargain, Evan told the court that he is now a teacher at the correctional centre in Kirikiri after obtaining a teaching diploma in economics from Yewa College of Education and is no longer a criminal. He pledged to forfeit his 14 brand-new trucks to the Lagos State Government for sale, with the proceeds to be transferred to the victims of his criminal activities as part of the proposed plea bargain arrangement. Represented by his lawyer, Mr. Etudo Emefo, Evans, in his application before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he had undergone a transformation during his time in Kirikiri Maximum Prison. He claimed that the Federa...

FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB (retd), has justified military incursions into governance in Nigeria. IBB, who explained why the country had five coups between 1966 and 1985, added that military governments had more development projects than civilian governments. In extracts from Part Three, Chapter Five, pages 104 to 115 of his controversial Autobiography: 'A Journey in Service', launched last Thursday, he highlighted the motivations behind military interventions, the historical context of coups in Nigeria and Africa, the structural reforms initiated by military leaders, and the on-going challenge of ensuring responsible governance. He wrote: When I started working on this autobiography a few years ago, I knew that, as someone who had participated in military coups, I would, at some point, need to reiterate my position on the problematic issue of military interventions in politics.  Anyone, who reads descriptions of me, particularly in foreig...

•Says profiling of signatories ongoing •AGF slams govs over illegal removal of LG officials THE Federal Government has explained why despite the order of the Supreme Court, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has not commenced direct release of funds to the 774 local government areas, LGA, in the country. In separate presentations, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and CBN’s Director of Legal, Mr. Kofo Salam-Alade, maintained that modalities that would enable the various LGAs to directly draw funds from the federation account were not in place. The duo further disclosed that those that would serve as signatories to accounts of the various LGAs were still being profiled by the necessary bodies. Speaking at a state of the nation discourse on strengthening of local government autonomy in Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, the AGF revealed that shortly after the July 11, 2024, landmark judgement of the Supreme Court...

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo THE Federal Government said it has resolved the passport printer crisis at its consulates in Atlanta and New York in the United States of America. The resolution followed directives of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, in January 2025 to deliver new passport printers to the consulates in both cities. “The machines have now been delivered and installed yesterday, February 18, 2025,” said Babatunde Alao, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the minister. Vanguard had recently published complaints by some Nigerians in the diaspora who called the attention of the minister to the need for new printers to ease the process of passport application in the concerned consulates. Alao said the installation of the new printers provided immediate relief and was part of the ministry’s broader effort to streamline passport services in ensuring a more seamless application process. “The ministry is com...

Oluwaseun Falaye TO ensure  accountability of subscribers’ funds, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust  Fund, NSITF, is collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, to strengthen its internal capacity to fight corruption and win public trust. The partnership is geared towards detection of corruption within the Fund, and promote good governance; uphold accountability and integrity, while it maintains its commitment to ethical principles. The Managing Director of NSITF,  Oluwaseun Faleye, explained this when he led a management delegation on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, stating that the collaboration could redefine the fight against corruption in the NSITF and the country at large. He pointed out that the partnership was very critical to efforts and desire to eradicate corruption, even as he stated that the gathering underscored a shared vision, merging time-honoured values with bold, ...

•Clark, Adebanjo, Iwuanyanwu’s demise, end of an era — Ogbonnia LATE Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; and Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, had many things in common. They were elder statesmen, nonagenarians, ebony black, bulky and strongly built. They were also lawyers. The duo were pillars of The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerian citizens. They belonged to the Southern Leaders Forum, SLF; and Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF. Pa Adebanjo and Clark were also at the 2014 National Conference and till their expiration remained a loud and path-charting voice for true federalism, resource control, restructuring and enthronement of equity and justice in the country. Born 11 and a half months apart, the duo, strikingly, died three days apart. Pa Adebanjo, who was born on April 10, 1928 died on February 14, 2025 exactly 55 days to his 97th birthday. On the other hand, Pa Clark, who was born on May 25, 1927, joined his ancestors on February 17, 2025, exact...

THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined to grant an application the embattled National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, filed to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from giving effect to his removal as the party’s scribe. Specifically, Anyanwu, in the motion ex-parte filed through his team of lawyers, led by Mr. Ken Njemanze, SAN, prayed the court to bar the electoral body or its agents from receiving or acting upon any correspondent or submission from the PDP, unless such documents were signed by him. He further applied for an injunction to restrain the National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun, from forwarding any correspondence, document or written submissions to INEC without his own signature. However, instead of granting the prayers, the court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, directed the Applicant to go and put all the defendants in the matter, including the INEC, on notice.  Justice Ek...

•No lawmaker defected to LP — Spokesman •Says lawmakers remain committed to APC •Discovery of firearms in my office, a concoction — Obasa •As women groups condemn Assembly invasion THE Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda has denied reports claiming she resigned from her position, insisting that she remains the Speaker. Speculation about Meranda’s resignation began after an online report suggested she had stepped down. The Speaker, who spoke through her Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, said: “I’m in the office. The speaker is in the office. I don’t know where that is coming from. “It is a lie from the pit of hell. There is no truth in the story. I am doing my work as the CPS, the Speaker is in her office as we speak and everybody is going about his or her business. We do not know where the story is coming from. The Speaker has not resigned and there is no plan for that.” A circular dated February 17, 2025, allegedly released by Meranda had been trending f...

THE family of  a 17-year-old Tolu Bobade, allegedly tortured to death by policemen attached to Divisional Police station in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, demanding justice. Recall that the boy, who was arrested by the police reportedly died after being tortured while in their custody. Subsequently, irate youths in the community protested his death by invading the police station and set it ablaze.  Meanwhile, five suspected arsonists have been arrested by police in the state for setting ablaze the Divisional Police Station in Ifon.  The state Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this in Akure, the state capital, saying full investigation had been launched into the incident. Meanwhile, in the petition by Dupe Bobade on behalf of the family, they called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tolu’s arrest, detention and eventual death. The petition drew...

•Adeleke orders security agents to take over LG secretariats •Matter under investigation — Police •NASS caucus tasks Tinubu, NSA on order in Osun THE crisis over the control of local government secretariats in Osun State, got worsened as eight persons, including a local government chairman, were reportedly killed and scores injured as elected local government officials on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, resumed offices at the various council secretariats. While the state government said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost five persons, the APC said three of its members were killed. The PDP and APC have been laying claim to the control of the council areas with the APC claiming that the Appeal Court had reinstated the sacked elected council chairmen and councillors. The Osun State government, however, countered that the election was nullified by a Federal High Court in Osogbo. How crisis worsened As early as 8 am, elected council officials mobilised to resume at ...

•As APC scribe, Osun SSG trade words THE slain chairman of Irewole Local Government Aera, Mr Remi Abass has been buried amidst tears as residents could not control their emotions at the site. Abbas was killed, on Monday, during the battle for the control of council secretariats between supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State in Ikire, Irewole council headquarters. During his burial in Ikire, residents thronged the venue crying over the manner the deceased was killed, despite his contribution to the development of the community. Meanwhile, the APC has called on its supporters and members to stay away from the council secretariats in a bid to honour the soul of Abass and others. The party Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement, urged the police to widen its investigating mechanism to nab the killers of Abass and bring them to justice. It reads partly: “The untimely and sudden killing of the peace-loving and consummate politician...