Month: March 2021

Bill to establish Fed. University of Medicine, Ekiti, scales second reading

Emporium Reporters

A bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, on Tuesday scaled second reading in the Senate.   Sponsor of the bill, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), while leading debate on the piece of legislation, said the establishment of the university would provide basic scientific training as a foundation for the development of medicine and allied disciplines.   According to the lawmaker, “the enactment of this Bill will help in transforming the health and educational fortunes in Nigeria in producing the desired…

State policing ‘ll provide security in grassroot – Gov Sani Bello

Emporium Reporters

Niger state Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has advocated the need for establishment of state police in the country to provide security at the lowest level of the society. Governor Sani Bello made the suggestion when he received, on courtesy visit, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), led by David Kolade Alabi at the Government House, Minna. He said time has come for the State Police to be established especially as the Federal Police are being faced with inadequate manpower and other logistical challenges. “Now I strongly believe state…

COVID-19 Vaccination: Senate President receives first jab of AstraZeneca Vaccine … urges more sensitisation, advocacy

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan took the lead at the National Assembly on Tuesday when he received the first jab of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine was administered on him in his office by his personal physician, Dr Muhammad Usman and witnessed by some Distinguished Senators led by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi. The vaccination card was presented to the Senate President by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health(Secondary and Tertiary), Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe. Speaking shortly after he received the first jab of the vaccine, the Senate President…

Police operatives bust violent criminal networks …. arrest 50 suspects, recover Firearms, Ammunition, others.

Emporium Reporters

The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested fifty (50) criminal suspects who are members of various notorious criminal gangs and networks across the country. The arrests, which were carried out by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team and the Special Tactical Squad of the Force attached to the Operation Puff Adder II, were outcomes of successful follow-up on cases bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, unlawful possession of firearms, amongst others.   A total of ten (10) sophisticated prohibited firearms, two thousand, four hundred and ninety-six (2,496) AK47 live ammunition,…

Gov Yahaya Bello for President of Nigeria? By Yushau A. Shuaib

Emporium Reporters

“Eh… My Oga!”, he exclaimed, with surprise written on his face. I quickly glanced backward to see who the call was meant for. Surprisingly, other guests, mostly editors and online publishers, were smiling and laughing. “Alhaji Yushau Shuaib… very long time!” The unmistakable voice of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State rang out again. Through my face mask, I returned a smile and exchanged a COVID-19 greeting of an elbow bump, rather than a handshake or an embrace. A week prior to the face-to-face encounter with the governor, I had…

Police remained adamant over payment of N2m award – Complainant cries out

Emporium Reporters

The Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violation by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force has charged police to be more serious in their endeavors. Dr.Garba Tetengi SAN who stood in for the Chairman of the panel Justice Suleiman Galadima stated that the police through its counsel DCP James Idachaba has obliged to give a positive report from the outcome of his meeting with the Force authority regarding the federal high court judgment sitting in Ikoyi, which awarded the sum of 2 million naira in…

NYSC DG sensitizes corps members on honours Award

Emporium Reporters

The National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has advised Corps Members to acquaint themselves with the criteria for the conferment of the President’s NYSC Honours Award. He was speaking today during his visits to the Orientation Camps in Nasarawa and Benue States. Ibrahim stressed that potential award winners must have excelled in all the Cardinal Programmes of the Scheme, namely:Orientation, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Winding-up/Passing-Out programme. He added that in the course of carrying out the assessment of Corps Members, which began right from the…

I have not seen my son after his arrest – Petitioner laments

Emporium Reporters

Mrs.Hilda Ezeala, a petitioner before the independent investigative panel on Human Rights Violation by the defunct SARS and other units of the police, has petitioned the panel over alleged enforced disappearance and right to personal liberty of her son Eric Ezeala. The petitioner in her testimony narrated how it all started at about 7pm on 17 0f July 2017 when Eric her son was taken by some policemen in a vehicle and asked her to come to Owerri SARS office with her Lawyer. According to the petitioner by the time…

The Nigerian Diaspora Vs. Deputy Speaker Idris Wase By Reuben Abati

Emporium Reporters

Idris Wase is the Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives. There is a video in circulation that shows him presiding over a session of the House of Representatives in the absence of the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila. The matter before the House was the attempt by Rep. Mark Terser Gbilah representing the Tiv Federal Constituency to present a petition by his constituents writing under the umbrella of the Mutual Union of Tivs in America (MUTA). These concerned citizens in the said petition sought to register their…

IIP-SARS: Lawyer narrates how DPO, other officers handcuffed, rained punches on him for attempting to bail detainee

Emporium Reporters

A complainant at the IIP-SARS, Joseph Bassey Arikpo Esq. on Tuesday told the panel how DPO in Ikom, Cross River State Command,SP Solomon Danja threw several punches on him for asking that a detainee in his station, Mr. Friday Ogbor be allowed access to his relations. Mr. Arikpo said that before the DPO allegedly descended on him with punches, he had reminded him detainee’s right to personal liberty and dignity of human person, ” following which the DPO got infuriated and called me a stupid man while beckoning on an…