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Tag: spokesman

  • Lagos monarch’s son, two others stab NANS spokesman to death

    Lagos monarch’s son, two others stab NANS spokesman to death

    Suspected robbers last Friday stabbed to death, the spokesman for the National Association of Nigerian Students’ (NANS) Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Comrade Oshin Aderigbigbe.

    He was stabbed with a knife around 11:30am at Okokomaiko by a gang of three men, who allegedly snatched his phone and laptop.

    A statement by the police yesterday alleged that Bashiru Ahmed, 21, alias Kawu, of Okoko, the son of a popular monarch in the area, was among those who committed the crime.

    The statement, signed Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Aderigbigbe had gone to hospital that day with blood gushing out of his body to report the crime.

    “He eventually died. The leader of the hoodlums who attacked him, Ahmed, was arrested. He confessed to have committed the crime with two of his friends now at large. Ahmed, the son of a popular traditional ruler in Okoko, is a notorious criminal, who has been charged to court on several occasions by the police.

    “He returned from the prison six months ago and has been on the watch list of the police. Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos for investigation.

    “Detectives are trailing the remaining two suspects,” Elkana said.

    Meanwhile, the police also on Saturday arrested Sunday Isaiah, 42, for allegedly stabbing Bukola Oluwaseun, 37, to death at a beer parlour in Agege.

    Elkana said the incident occurred around 2:45pm at Ogunbambi Street, Agege.

    He said the police received a distress call.

    Elkana said policemen from Dopemu were drafted to the scene to restore order, adding that it was discovered that the victim was stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle during a fight.

    “The victim died on the way to hospital and his body was deposited at the mortuary for post mortem. The suspect has been arrested by the police. Investigation is on and the suspect will be charged to court,” he said.

  • Gunmen kidnap NiMet’s spokesman three days to daughter’s wedding

    Unknown gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped a spokesperson for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Muntari Ibrahim.

    According to reports, Ibrahim was travelling from Kaduna to Abuja on Tuesday afternoon when he was abducted. Family sources said the kidnappers had not made contact about his fate.

    Sani Marshi, the director-general of NiMet confirmed the development on Wednesday afternoon. According to him, the agency was working with the police to free the top official and expressed hope for success.

    The police did not return requests for comments about the abduction.

    A family source said Ibrahim who hails from Katsina State, was accosted near Katari, a community along Abuja-Kaduna Highway about 74 kilometres to Abuja.

    Ibrahim was riding in an official Peugeot 408 when the attackers struck, causing yet another concern for his life barely a year after he survived a ghastly auto crash from which he was still recuperating.

    Security agencies are being counted on to successfully resolve Mr Ibrahim’s kidnap, which comes as his daughter is scheduled to get married on April 6.

  • Gunmen kidnap Atiku’s spokesman on eve of presidential election

    Gunmen kidnap Atiku’s spokesman on eve of presidential election

    Some suspected gunmen have on Friday evening kidnapped Austin Okai, Atiku’s presidential spokesperson for Kogi State.

    Okai was reportedly abducted in his residence in Abuja by the heavily armed gunmen.

    The gunmen were said to have stormed his residence and flashed ID cards believed to be for the personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS) and whisked him away.

    His whereabouts is yet to be unknown at the time of publishing this report.

    Nigeria heads to the polls on Saturday to elect their president and members of the National Assembly.

    Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the major contenders for the presidential election.

  • Army announces appointment of new spokesman, redeploy senior officers

    The Nigerian Army on Monday announced the appointment of a new Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, in a major shakeup that affected other senior officers.

    A statement signed by Colonel Aliyu Yusuf on behalf of Army Public Relations noted that the redeployment of the new officers was released by the leadership of the Army on Sunday.

    The statement reads: “the Nigerian Army has Monday Sunday 10 February 2019, released the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers.

    “Those affected by this include, Brigadier General NJ Okah who has been posted from Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies (NAITES) to Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics and appointed Acting Director of Engineering Services, Brigadier General MA Masanawa from Army Headquarters, Department of Army Policy and Plans to ACADA and appointed Commander, while Brigadier General HT Wesley posted from Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps to Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics has been appointed Director Clothing and Store, erstwhile Brigadier General HG Tafida of the Nigerian Army Central Workshop Rigachukwu posted to Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics and appointed Director Engineering and Maintenance

    “Brigadier General BA Ilori has been posted to Army Headquarters Department if Army Policy and Plans and appointed Deputy Director Equipment Procurement.

    “Brigadier General AA Adereti, posted to National Defence College and appointed Directing Staff while Colonel O Nwachukwu from Headquarters Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole has been posted to Defence Headquarters and appointed Acting Director Defence Information.

    “Similarly, Colonel S Musa has been posted to Directorate of Army Public Relations and appointed Acting Director Army Public Relations Nigerian Army while Colonel AA Yusuf has been appointed Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army.

    “Colonel AD Isa is posted to Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole and appointed Deputy Director Army Public Relations while the new Acting Corps Commander Nigerian Army Medical Corps is Colonel S Adama.

    “Others affected by the new development include, Colonel OG Olaniyi who was posted from Nigerian Army School of Music to Nigerian Army Band Corps and appointed Acting Director Army Band, Colonel EI Okoro and Colonel I P Bindul are posted to Army War College Nigeria as Directing Staff amongst others.“

  • Army spokesman announces voluntary retirement from service

    Brig. Gen Sani Usman, the Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, on Thursday announced his voluntary disengagement from the military.

    In a statement in Abuja, Brig. Gen Usman said though a new spokesman has not been named, he would hand over to Colonel A A Yusuf who is the Chief of Staff of the Directorate of Public Relations.

    He described his career as exciting and fulfilling, saying he would be proceeding on Terminal Leave from February 8.

    Brig. Gen Usman said: “I wish to inform you that with effect from Friday 8 February 2019, I will be proceeding on Terminal Leave, thus marking the end of my exciting and fulfilling career in the Nigerian Army.

    “I would like seize this opportunity to thank you all for your friendship, love, support and encouragement over the years that tremendously assisted me personally and repositioning the Directorate of Army Public Relations to the enviable height attained, thus far. I also wish to thank the Nigerian nation for the wonderful opportunity to serve the country and humanity in various capacities for over three decades.

    “I am leaving highly fulfilled after contributing my best to national development, the Nigerian Army, gaining great wealth of knowledge, experience, inestimable network of friends which I will treasure forever.

    “I am thankful to the Nigerian Army also for giving me wonderful opportunities and work exposure to practice Public Relations to the point of being a Fellow of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR), Member of the National Institute (mni), among other honours, awards and qualifications, as well as attaining the highest level of command of the Directorate of Army Public Relations twice.

    “Although a new Director has not been appointed yet, I am handing over to Colonel AA Yusuf, the Chief of Staff, Directorate of Army Public Relations.

    “As I exit this noble profession voluntarily, I wish you all continued God’s blessings, guidance and protection, amen.

    “I will certainly miss you all and will continue to cherish the friendship and bond among us. I enjoin you to continue to support the military while discharging your professional duties.”

  • Layinka heads new Ibadan Media City Project, as Ajimobi appoints Tunji new spokesman

    Layinka heads new Ibadan Media City Project, as Ajimobi appoints Tunji new spokesman

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has appointed his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, to the new and strategic role of Special Adviser, Ibadan Media City Project.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, conveyed the governor’s decision, on Wednesday.

    By this appointment, he said Layinka is expected to oversee the proposed transformation of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State into a massive and formidable media, entertainment and cultural hub for South-West Nigeria.

    In a related development, the SSG said that the governor has approved the appointment of an Executive Director with the Sun Newspaper, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, to take over from Layinka as Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy.

    According to him, the redeployment of the governor’s former spokesman to the new project is further proof of the government’s commitment to reclaiming the state’s pioneer status as Nigeria’s leading centre of media, entertainment and culture.

    Layinka, a veteran broadcaster, is being saddled with a new responsibility of transforming the corporation into a hub that would include television and radio broadcasting production studios, theme parks/resorts, hospitality centre, a media academy and hosting venue for major live events in the sub-region.

    Alli had at a press conference in February stated that the ongoing reorganization in the corporation was a part of a long-term plan by the governor to transform the edifice to a leading media and entertainment hub that propels the unique Yoruba cultural heritage.

    Until his new appointment, Tunji was the ED, Special Duties and a member of the board of the Sun Newspapers, where he took a leave of absence to assume his new role.

    An alumnus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, the new governor’s spokesman was the pioneer managing director/editor-in-chief of the New Telegraph newspaper.

    He began his journalism career at the Guardian newspaper in March 1993, from where he joined the Daily Independent newspaper as pioneer deputy news editor in 2001 and had a meteoric rise to the position of an Editor.

    Tunji also had a stint with the Daily Times before joining the defunct Comet newspaper, which later metamorphosed into The Nation Newspaper.

    At the Nation, he was the pioneer editor of the Saturday title, before joining the repackaged National Mirror as pioneer Sunday Editor and later Editor of the National Mirror, the flagship of the Global Media Mirror Limited titles.

    He left the National Mirror to assist in the setting up of the New Telegraph, where he served as the pioneer MD/EIC, before being appointed as the ED, special duties of the Sun Newspaper. Tunji is married and is blessed with male and female children.

  • BREAKING: IBB’s spokesman, Kassim Afegbua sues police, media houses for N1bn

    BREAKING: IBB’s spokesman, Kassim Afegbua sues police, media houses for N1bn

    Sequel to being declared wanted by the police, Kassim Afegbua, media adviser to former military president, Ibrahim Babangida on Tuesday sued for fundamental rights enforcement.

    Afegbua is also requesting N1 billion in damages from the police, its spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, and two media houses.

    The spokesman’s legal representative, Kayode Ajulo, filed the suit at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court Tuesday afternoon.

    The reliefs sought include an immediate end to the alleged harassment being meted against him by the police.

    Ajulo joined the National Television Authority and Channels Television in the lawsuit for airing claims that Mr. Afegbua was a wanted man.

    Recall that Afegbua released a statement on Sunday in which Babangida complained about President Muhammadu Buhari’s shortcomings and advised Nigerians on the path to the future.

    Hours after the statement was released, a counter press release emerged that purportedly had Mr. Babangida’s approval.

    However, Babangida later said he authorised the statement distributed by his spokesman while insisting that the second statement emanated from his friends and should be discarded.

     

    Details later…

  • Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina gets Igbo chieftaincy nomination

    The Igwe Omeluenyi 1 of Aguneese, Ezeani III of Nmaku Kingdom in Enugu State, Igwe Cyprian Nevobasi, has nominated the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, for a chieftaincy title.

    According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Information, State House, Mr. Attah Esa, the presidential spokesman will be conferred with the chieftaincy title as part of the First Grand Ofala to mark the traditional ruler’s 14 years on the throne, next month.

    The monarch was said to have presented the nomination letter to Adesina on Tuesday.

    Esa disclosed that his traditional cabinet chose Adesina “because of the good work you have been doing for the country.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is God-sent to bring change to Nigeria, and you have been supporting him in the assignment, to the admiration of myself and my cabinet members.”

    The Igwe said he looked forward to a positive response from the nominee, noting that his first Ofala festival in 14 years promises to be a grand event.

    With Igwe Nevobasi during the visit were Hon Usa Igwesi, a former member of the House of Representatives, and Chief Emmanuel Okeke.

    Adesina thanked the Igwe, his entire kingdom, and members of the delegation, saying: “I am simply short of words.”

  • Senate will give priority to passage of 2017 Budget – Spokesman

    The Senate Spokesman, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, has said that the Senate would place priority on the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill when it resumes from its three weeks recess.

    Abdullahi said this in an interview on Monday that the Upper Chamber would live up to its constitutional responsibility in turning out an implementable budget.

    He assured that the senate would speed up consideration of the budget in order to pass it in good time.

    The senate spokesman said the upper chamber would also speed up activities with regards to making laws that would entrench sustainable democracy in the country.

    “The senate will continue where it stopped in terms of the speed of work, the focus, and there will be increased intensity in terms of output,’’ Abdullahi said.

    The lawmaker assured that the senate would avoid anything that would create controversy and derail speedy consideration of the budget.

    He said, “At this period last year, we were already submerged in controversy with regard to the 2016 Budget but as you can see there is no controversy this time around.’’

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on Dec. 14, 2016, presented a budget of N7.3 trillion to the National Assembly for approval.