Thank You For Restoring My Rank, Honour, Gowon Tells IBB

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  Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has expressed gratitude to the ex-military president, Ibrahim Babangida, for restoring his rank and honour. Speaking at a book presentation by the former military president on Thursday in Abuja, Gowon acknowledged that Babangida saved him from treason charges. The elder statesman also appreciated Babangida for their long-standing friendship and his contributions to Nigeria’s development. Gowon said, “I had a very rough time in government; I was even charged with treason. Later, President Shagari rescinded that order, and you (IBB) eventually restored my rank and honour. You did quite a lot for the country.” Also speaking at the event, former President Goodluck Jonathan praised Babangida for documenting his experiences in a book, saying the project would enrich Nigeria’s historical records. “If you contribute to documenting history, it strengthens and makes it more relevant. So today, you are helping us,” Jonathan said. Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, also paid tribute to Babangida, describing him as a friend and brother. “My relationship with Ibrahim has lasted over 80 years. Ibrahim, I want to thank you again for your friendship and brotherhood. We often reminisce about our past adventures, which always bring smiles to our faces. May these smiles continue in our twilight years,” he said. Dignitaries at the event included President Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among others. Punch

(ICYMI): House Of Assembly Invasion: DSS Demands Apology, Retraction Of Publications•••Gives 7 Days To AIT, Channels Or Face Legal Action

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  ABUJA – The Department of State Services (DSS) has demanded an apology and retraction of publications over invasion of Lagos State House of Assembly. The DSS gave Da’ar Communications Plc (AIT), Channels Television, and other media platforms seven (7) days to run apologies in their respective news channels five times a day for three days running, or face legal action. The Legal Counsel to DSS, who issued the notice to the stations, demanded an apology and retraction of reports by them purporting that their operatives invaded the Lagos Assembly on Monday. In a letter dated February 17, 2025, entitled “False, Defamatory and Malicious Publication Concerning the State Security Service (aka DSS) Regarding Their Presence at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday February 17, 2025,” the Service through its legal team, Adedipe and Adedipe demanded a retraction of the story and apology. According to the Counsel, “even when it was clear that, following fears that hoodlums could attack the lawmakers, it was the Clerk of the Assembly who invited DSS and police personnel to help secure the Assembly, the media houses nonetheless ran reports that their operatives invaded the Assembly Gestapo style.” The Service gave the media organizations seven (7) days to run apologies in their respective news channels five times a day for three days running, or face legal action. Recall that these media outfits alleged that the Secret Service stormed Lagos State House of Assembly to disrupt the business of the House, contrary to facts that the DSS was invited to carry out its statutory duties.

Man Cries Out To Kemi Badenoch Over N50m Lost Transactions With UK-Based Nigerian

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  IBADAN – One Mr Tommy Afolabi, Popularly known as Mr B, a resident of United States has appealed to Kemi Badenoch a member of parliament of the United Kingdom over a failed Fifty million naira(N50M) transaction involving one Mr Olugbenga Adejuwon, a UK-based Nigerian. While appealing to Nigerians both in the diaspora and at home, Mr Tommy Afolabi alleged Olugbenga Adejuwon of defrauding him N50M forwarded into his account on December 10, 2024 meant for down payment of house in America for one Mrs Otsabomhe. In his narration about the deal, Mr Tommy said, “there is a particular family in Nigeria that I’d always helped in buying things from here in America, and they told me they wanted to buy a house here in America. “They told me they have the sum of N50M which is equivalent to the sum of $30,000 at the current rate then, that I should link them up with anyone that has interest in selling house over here in America, so I can help them secure the property. “I contacted a friend who is a family friend to me and I briefed him about the development, he was the one who introduced one Mr Olugbenga Adejuwon a resident of United Kingdom to me, who told me he has up to $30,000 in his US account, that I should forward the sum of the N50m into his Nigeria bank account, as he promised to pay in dollars from his chase bank account in America. So that the money can meet up with the deadline of the down payment of the house. “Mr Gbenga Adejuwon gave us his bank account details in Nigeria which is Providus Bank and we made a payment into it, OMDG Limited is the name of the business account he sent to us, and I instructed Mrs Otsabomhe to pay the sum of N50M into that business account that Gbenga Adejuwon gave us, that was on December 10, the transactions was divided into four and when they sent him the transaction slips, he acknowledged receiving the payment, and to our amazement immediately the money hitted his account, he quickly moved the N50M the same day to his personal account and then transferred the money in two accounts of the GTB Bank. “Mr Gbenga Adejuwon upon receiving the sum of N50M into his Nigerian business account, quickly moved the 50million the same day into his personal account and then transferred N20million through GTB Bank to a supposedly person, one Mr Samuel Adesanyi and sent another N30million to GTB account of one Nigeria based shipping company in Lagos state. “While waiting for him to send me the $30,000, I called him, that was on December 12th and he claimed to have sent the $30,000 to my account that, the client he worked for has transferred the money to my account and he has the transfer slip already. He said he’s driving a d that he’d forward it to me which i didn’t receive. To my shocking surprise, the bank did not authorized the transfer because it is a fraudulent transaction. That would put me in jail. Up till today, no dollars received and he refused to return the N50M. “The name on the transfer slip is the woman’s name, Mrs Otsabomhe. Gbenga Adejuwon didn’t refund any money to me, nor to Mrs Otsabomhe up till now. The sum of $30,000 has not been paid neitheris is he ready to refund the N50M he kept giving us excuses. “I’ve ended up losing the house that I wanted to buy for Mrs Otsabomhe family and they’ve been on my neck saying I’m the one that introduced Mr Gbenga to them. I didn’t know that Mr Gbenga staged all these to defraud and rob us. It’s very clear to us now that he doesn’t have any dollars in any bank account, he refused to return the N50M. “To my surprise, while we keep digging into the matter, we kept calling his phone, but he doesn’t answer his calls and kept making excuses. “He kept saying he’s expecting some money from cryptocurrency so he can refund the N50 million. I’ve lost sleep because the family who owns the money has been on my neck, and my family has been put in jeopardy. “I didn’t realized that he was a fraudster., Now I confirmed that he do make use of his account he has with Providus Bank in Nigeria to defraud people and then quickly move the money out from his business account. “I’m calling on Nigerians to advise me on how to go about this, I want Mr Gbenga Adejuwon to refund the N50M sent into his account. His wife’s name is Remmy Adejuwon. “And he’s using the fact that he resides in the UK and that nobody can harass him to his advantage over this issue,he has destroyed the relationship, business, and trust that I had with Otsabomhe’s family. Mrs Tinuola Agbabiaka of RCCG Christ Church Gbagada Lagos state married to one pastor Agbabiaka is Mr Gbenga Adejuwon’s sister, she has also pleaded to his brother to refund the money, but he’s been blocking and dropping everyone’s call. I’m begging Nigerians both home and abroad to please come to my rescue as Mr Gbenga Adejuwon is leveraging on the fact that he’s in the UK and nothing can be done to him. “I’m also using this medium to appeal to the member of the parliament of the United Kingdom to help me on this matter as Mr Gbenga Adejuwon is a UK resident and he’s not ready to refund the N50million sent to his account since last year.”

JUST IN: APC LG Chairmen, Councillors Resume In 14 Osun Councils

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  As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, chairmen and councillors elected in the October 15, 2022, local government election in Osun State had resumed in about 14 LGA Secretariat in the state. Checks by The PUNCH revealed that the chairmen and councillors, accompanied by many APC members, have resumed at Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun local government secretariat. Others where they resumed include Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe local government secretariat. Commenting, ex-Special Adviser to the governor on education, Jamiu Olawumi, said at about 10am, the chairmen and councillors resumed at 14 local government secretariat. Olawumi also said no incidence of violence has been recorded so far. “We have 14 as of 10 am. They are Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun. “Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe. Security was top-notch. Members of the police tactical team, an armed squad of civil defence, and DSS are all present around the secretariat. We commend Governor Adeleke, but that is not enough. “They should take away thugs they brought here. They have them in town. If you move around, you will see different faces that you have not seen here. They should not encourage those militants and cultists to kill the Osun people. “It is dawn on them that the judgment is enforceable. The governor should make an attempt to see the President, Chief of Staff to the President or the IGP. He should do that much for us so that the vision of developing Osun within his current tenure will be achieved. “Our chairmen and councillors are ready to work with him, though they are different tiers of government,” Olawumi said. Punch

Shun Exploitation, Minister Tells Traders To Reflect Food Price Reductions

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  The Federal Government has urged retailers to reflect the reduction in food prices and shun exploiting consumers. The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abubakar Kyari, stated this on Tuesday during the 2025 Wheat Farmers Green Field Day, at Dabi village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa. He decried the nonchalant attitude of retailers to reflect the reduction in their sales despite a drop in prices, describing it as unpatriotic and unacceptable. “The federal government is aware of the significant drop in the prices of food items across major markets, particularly for essential commodities such as flour, sugar, rice, and pasta. “However, it is deeply concerning that many retailers, bakers, and shop owners have refused to reflect this reduction in their selling prices, thereby denying Nigerians the relief they deserve. “In previous months, stakeholders in the retail value chain raised concerns about the rising cost of food items. Now that the prices have dropped, such as flour, which fell from N81,000 per bag to below N60,000, Spaghetti has fallen from N20,000 to N15,000. “It is only fair and just to let consumers benefit from food price reduction,” Kyari said. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure food availability and engage with relevant stakeholders to reflect the current market realities. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was organised in collaboration between the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria and, the federal and Jigawa state governments. (NAN)

Osun Electoral Commission Denies Military Siege, Confirms Saturday LG Poll

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  The management of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission has dismissed insinuations that its premises had been sealed by military personnel. This was contained in a statement by the commission’s Information Officer, Sadiat Isiaka, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, in reaction to the information circulating on the social media that OSSIEC office in Osogbo had been taken over by soldiers. The commission also assured all that the local government election slated for Saturday would hold as scheduled, noting that, wrong information should not to be allowed to inhibit people from participating in the election. It enjoined members of the public to disregard the unsubstantiated report, noting that the premises of the Commission was well secured and safe as evident in the heavy presence of inter-agency security personnel. “OSSIEC wishes to alert members of the public to the fake news in circulation that the premises of the commission have been sealed off by the Nigerian Army. “The general public especially the electorate are hereby enjoined to disregard the fake news as the premises of the cpmmission is well secure and safe as evident in the heavy presence of inter-agency security personnel comprising the combined team of the police, DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA, Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante etc. “Our commendations to the security agencies for providing adequate security for the staff, facilities and election materials at OSSIEC. We wish to add that the fake news was a propaganda concocted by some miscreants to mis-inform and create panic among the electorate, therefore should not be taken serious. “We hereby assure the good people of Osun State that the election will hold as scheduled, as such, no pseudo information should inhibit the people from participating in the democratic process,” the statement read in parts. Punch

Oyo Govt To Connect UCH To State Power Grid Amid Energy Crisis

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  IBADAN – The Oyo State Government has announced plans to connect the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to its Independent Power Plant (IPP) to mitigate ongoing power supply challenges at the federal health facility. In a statement posted on its official social media handle, the state government acknowledged the hospital’s electricity woes and emphasised that, despite UCH being a federal institution, it intends to offer a medium-term solution through integration with the state’s power infrastructure. UCH, one of Nigeria’s foremost medical institutions, has struggled with erratic power supply in recent months, leading to disruptions in critical healthcare services. Reports from patients and hospital staff indicate that frequent blackouts have affected medical procedures, laboratory operations, and patient care The Oyo State Government’s intervention, though temporary, is expected to provide some relief to the hospital’s management and patients. The Independent Power Plant (IPP), which currently supplies energy to key state facilities, will be extended to UCH as part of the medium-term solution. However, officials have not disclosed a timeline for the implementation. While the federal government remains responsible for the hospital’s overall management and infrastructure, this move signals a growing trend of state governments stepping in to address local energy deficiencies affecting federal institutions. Patients and residents have welcomed the announcement, with many urging swift implementation to prevent further disruptions to medical services.

Not Knowing Me Doesn’t Make You Less Christian, Nathaniel Bassey Cautions Against ‘Unholy Obsession’

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  Gospel artist and pastor, Nathaniel Bassey has cautioned his followers against turning their passion into an “unholy obsession.” In a statement on his X handle on Monday, Bassey emphasised that not recognising him or other young ministers does not make anyone less of a Christian. He also clarified that choosing not to participate in his midnight “Hallelujah Challenge” does not diminish one’s faith. The statement read, “My dear brothers and sisters, you are blessed. Just a note of caution. “Please, let’s be careful and guided so we don’t turn our passion to unholy obsession. “Not knowing Nathaniel Bassey or any of the young vibrant servants of God being used does not make you any less a Christian. In fact, there are so many Christians who have never heard of me nor my music. It doesn’t make them any less Christians. They don’t have to know me. I’m not the best thing after slice bread. “I do not even see myself in that manner. I would be thinking of myself more highly than I ought doing so. “’For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.’ Romans 12:3. “Also, not joining the Hallelujah challenge does not make you less a Christian. People are free to connect with what’s best for them. “I describe it in this way. Apples don’t grow everywhere. It doesn’t mean the places apples don’t grow are bad. It may just not be apples’ environment. “Those of us joining should never look down on those not joining. Those who are not joining should also not look down on those joining. “Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Romans 14:3. “Let every man where in He is called abide. 1 Cor 7:24 “Sharing this due to the various tags I’ve been mentioned. And normally would not comment on such. But felt a need to enlighten a few of us. “Having said this, HC is back tonight after a short break, with Day 7. So let’s gather, before our Father, at the altar, to offer, hallelujah, together ! No wahala! Only hallellujah.” Punch

Tariff Hike: Airtel Raises Data, Call rates

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  Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest telecom operator, has revised its data pricing structure, implementing a tariff adjustment of up to 50 per cent, according to details published on its website on Monday. The price revision, which affects various data bundles, aligns with ongoing industry concerns over escalating operational costs. While the company has yet to issue an official statement, the move underscores the broader push among telecom operators for a tariff review to cushion the impact of inflation and forex volatility. Beyond data adjustments, the operator with over 56 million subscribers had also increased voice call tariffs over the weekend. A senior Airtel official, speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, confirmed the development, emphasising that the adjustments were necessitated by rising costs. “Yes, we have updated data prices today, and they are available on our website. However, the increase is not up to 50 percent,” the official clarified. In its revised price list, Airtel assured customers of continued affordability, stating, “Whatever your data needs are, we have a plan for you. Our fast, affordable, and reliable internet experience will keep you connected anytime, anywhere. To get started, Dial *312#.” The revised daily and weekly data plans include N50 for 40MB valid for 1 day, N100 for 100MB valid for 1 day, N200 for 200MB valid for 3 days, N350 for 1GB valid for 1 day, N350 for 350MB valid for 7 days, N500 for 750MB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 200MB YouTube Music/Spotify valid for 7 days, N500 for 1GB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 50MB Socials valid for 7 days, N500 for 2GB valid for 2 days, and N1500 for 5GB valid for 7 days. Similarly, MTN, Nigeria’s largest telecom provider, has also adjusted its data and call tariffs in line with the NCC’s approval. The revised pricing, implemented over the past week, has seen customers paying more for calls, SMS, and internet usage. The latest increases come as telecom operators grapple with inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and the rising cost of network expansion. While the adjustments aim to support long-term service improvements, subscribers may face increased financial pressure as communication costs rise.

Tension As Thugs Kill Reinstated Osun LG Chair Amid Crisis

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  Suspected thugs have reportedly shot and killed Remi Abass, the recently reinstated Chairman of Irewole Local Government in Osun State. The sad development occurred on Monday as Abass arrived at the council secretariat with his supporters, sources revealed. Armed assailants, believed to be thugs, ambushed the group, leading to the fatal shooting. Meanwhile, security forces, including personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), have apprehended several individuals suspected of involvement in the violence. Efforts to reach Osun State Police spokesperson, SP Opalola Yemisi, for confirmation proved unsuccessful, as she neither answered calls nor responded to messages. The incident follows recent political tensions in Osun State, where Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of attempting to incite unrest. Adeleke alleged that Oyetola, leveraging his ties as President Bola Tinubu’s nephew, was issuing unauthorized directives to security agencies to facilitate the reinstatement of sacked local government chairmen. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the governor warned that the alleged plot, if executed, could plunge the state into turmoil. He insisted that President Tinubu, whom he described as a true democrat, would not support actions that could lead to bloodshed. Adeleke clarified that the affected council chairmen had been removed based on two Federal High Court rulings before he assumed office, countering claims that his administration was responsible for their dismissal. He called on the president and the public to intervene, warning that the abuse of power by certain political figures could destabilize the state.

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