Skit Maker, Murja Kunya Arrested At Kano Hotel

 A popular comedy skit maker, Murja Kunya, has been arrested by the police at Tahir Hotel in Kano.

The police arrested the Kano-based young lady while trying to book rooms for her guests who came from far and near for her much-publicised birthday bash.

In September last year, a Sharia court had written to the Kano State Commissioner of Police to arrest and investigate Miss Kunya alongside other TikTokers for ‘corrupting the morals of the society.’

Other TikTokers included in the letter are Mr 442, Safara’u, Dan Maraya, Amude Booth, Kawu Dan Sarki, Ado Gwanja, Ummi Shakira, Samha Inuwa and Babiana.

“Sequel to the complaint lodged by Muhd Ali Hamza Esq, Abba Mahmud, Esq, Sunusi I. Umar Esq, Abba, A.T Bebeji Esq, B.I Usman Esq, Muhd Nasir Esq, L.T Dayi Esq, G.A Badawi & Badamasi Suleiman Gandu Esq, I am directed by the presiding Upper Sharia Court Judge, Bichi Division Kano to write and kindly request you to conduct investigation against the above-mentioned suspects for proper action,” the letter read in part.

In November 2022, a Kano senior magistrate’s court sentenced two young men, Mubarak Isa and Nazifi Bala, to 20 strokes of the cane and 30 days of community service for making a TikTok comedy skit on the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

NDLEA Busts Transborder Cartel, Five Kingpins Arrested

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Sunday announced the arrest of five leaders of a drug syndicate operating in different parts of the world in a special operation that lasted weeks. The operation led to the seizure of different quantities of skunk, methamphetamine and ephedrine as well as air compressors used to conceal and distribute the illicit drugs globally.

A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the cartel leaders were spread across the United Arab Emirates, Benin Republic, Togo, Oman, Thailand, the European continent, and in Anambra, Imo and Lagos states.

Babafemi said while on Christmas and New Year holidays in various parts of Nigeria, the cartel leaders were still coordinating efforts to send illicit consignments to Dubai and other parts of the world.

Their cover was blown on December 29 when their freight agent, Onyeisue Chukwudi was arrested by NDLEA officers at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Chukwudi attempted to export three big automobile air compressors to Dubai and a follow-up operation led to the recovery of additional five compressors in his home at 24 Legacy Road, Ayobo, Lagos.

A total of 27.50kgs of skunk were taken out of the air compressors after welding tools were used to cut them open.

After discovering that the agent was working for a bigger organized criminal group, the NDLEA deployed operatives to track the first kingpin, Onuoha Obioma who lives in the Benin Republic and Togo but visited Lagos occasionally.

On January 7, Obioma walked into the waiting arms of operatives with a bag containing additional air compressors used to conceal 15.7kg of skunk and methamphetamine.

His statement led to the unravelling of two other cartel leaders – Dubai-based Ugo Kelechi and an Anambra-based businessman, Iwueke Ugochukwu aka Odugwu, who were still enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays in Imo.

They were arrested during an operation on January 10 at their ancestral homes in Umuobi village in Igbejere community, Ihitti-Uboma LGA, Imo where a Lexus SUV and a Toyota jeep were recovered from them.

After days of surveillance, the NDLEA eventually nabbed the cartel boss, Ezenwekwe Obinna, an automobile parts dealer at Alaba International Market, at a bar in Mazamaza, Mile 2, on January 14.

“A search of his home led to the recovery of 607g of ephedrine, a handful of cannabis weighing 20g as well as other paraphernalia, including 271g of dimethyl sulfone used as a cutting agent for ephedrine,” Babafemi said.

Also recovered from him were a chemical precursor and an active ingredient for the production of methamphetamine, a weighing scale and an international passport.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA also noted that no fewer than 2,601.5 kilograms of cannabis and 102,500 pills of pharmaceutical opioids were seized during interdiction operations across Plateau, Edo, Delta, Taraba, Kogi, Kano, Lagos and Adamawa states in the past week.

Ezekwesili: Only Nigerians Fed Up With Bad Governance Will Vote LP

 A former minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili has said it is only Nigerians who are fed up with bad governance that will vote for the Labour Party, LP.

Ezekwesili’s statement was contained in a post via her verified Twitter handle on Saturday.

Ahead of the presidential election, Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice president is supporting Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP.

She urged registered voters to do everything possible to get their Permanent Voter cards, maintaining it is the greatest weapon in their possession.

She wrote, “And when that day comes, all citizens who are tired of being badly governed shall each go out and place their right index thumb on the Mama, Papa and Pikin logo of LP as seen here!

Get your PVCs. Do everything possible to get it.

The PVC is your greatest possession now.

Peter Obi Releases “Citizens Participation” Phone Numbers And Mobile Apps

 We are pleased to introduce our interactive contact centre.

Kindly reach us on
092-206-333
092-206-555
0700-081-1478.

Also download our mobilisation apps (“Structure Media” or ”Townhall”) from app-store and join the obidient structure to be part of the final push to victory.
-PO

CBN Extends Deadline For Old Naira Notes To February 10

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a 10-day extension of the deadline for the use of old naira notes across Nigeria.

The CBN governor, who spoke to journalists Sunday morning, said he had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension.

The new deadline is now 10 February instead of the former 31 January deadline, he said.

Mr Emefiele spoke in Daura, Katsina State, after a meeting with the president who is in his home state for official duties.

Mr Emefiele said Nigerians, who are yet to change their naira notes from the old to new ones, now have an opportunity to do so.

He said people must utilize the opportunity because the deadline will not be extended again.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the CBN last October introduced redesigned 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes and gave a deadline of 31st January for the use of the old notes.

However, the new notes have been scarce, thus leading to calls for an extension.

Mr Emefiele did not elaborate on what the central bank was doing to resolve the scarcity of the new notes.

INEC Extends PVC Collection Deadline

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to February 5, 2023. 

INEC had pegged January 31 as the deadline for the collection of PVCs but a National Commissioner with the electoral umpire Festus Okoye said it has been extended by one week.

More to follow…

Kelechi Iheanacho Has Set A New Record In Thr English FA Cup

 Kelechi Iheanacho's fortuitous second-half strike broke the resistance of League Two Walsall and sent Leicester into the FA Cup fifth round.

After Youri Tielemans had missed a penalty on a testing afternoon for a strong Foxes side, Iheanacho's effort from the edge of the box deflected off Brandon Comley and looped over Saddlers goalkeeper Owen Evans in the 68th minute.

It was the Nigeria international's 17th goal in 23 FA Cup appearances - the most by any player since Iheanacho made his debut in the competition in 2016.