WOODPECKER BLOG

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE PRESS RELEASE Governor Ihedioha commiserates with Obi of Onitsha over loss of Chief Anthony Iwenjiora …God will give you the strength to address the damage in Imo…Obi of Onitsha Imo State Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has described Chief Anthony Iwenjiora as an accomplished leader, who has left behind, worthy legacies. He made this known during a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, Igwe Dr. Alfred Achebe CFR, Obi of Onitsha, to commiserate with him on the passing of Chief Anthony Iwenjiora,(Asagwali Omeikpo), father in-law to former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In his speech, the Governor said, “We are here because of the loss of one of your subjects, whose daughter, wife of the leader of our party and Presidential Candidate in the last election, is so dear to us. As a state and as a party, we have come to commiserate with you and to be with the family in this period.” Governor Ihedioha who was in the state to attend the b...

Nigerian diplomat’s son jailed for rape, murder in Scotland Published January 21, 2017 Kindly Share This Story A court in Scotland on Friday jailed the son of a Nigerian government official for life after raping and murdering a sex worker, a few weeks after he arrived the country to study at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Reports said 26-year-old Bala Chinda killed Nigerian-born sex worker, Jessica McGraa, on 11 February 2016. McGraa’s partially clothed body was found the following day in the bedroom of a flat she had rented in the city’s Union Terrace. Chinda denied the allegations, but CCTV footage showed that McGraa, 37, had travelled with to his student accommodation in the city’s King Street in a taxi. They returned to her apartment a short time later, where she was found dead the following day Jessica McGraa The mother of one made her last call on her mobile phone a few minutes before surveillance cameras recorde...

Troops arrest 25 bandits, kill others in Sokoto, Katsina Published June 30, 2019 Kindly Share This Story Nigerian troops. File copy Olaleye Aluko and OLAIDE OYELUDE Troops of the Nigerian Army on Operation Harbin Kunama 3 have arrested at least 25 bandits and killed others during gun battles in communities in Sokoto and Katsina states. The bandits, from whom eight AK-47 rifles and 48 rounds of special ammunition were recovered, were apprehended by troops in Isa, Rabbah and Burkusuma communities in Sokoto and Batsari, Safana and Kankara in Dumburum Forest of Katsina State. According to the army on Saturday, the troops also uncovered and destroyed five camps used by the bandits in Gando Forest of Kebbi State. The General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Maj. Gen Hakeem Otiki, said 25 motorcycles were seized from the bandits’ camps and destroyed during the operation. He added that Operation Harbin Kunama 3, which covered Katsina,...

66-year-old woman dies in Anambra inferno Published June 29, 2019 Kindly Share This Story File copy: Fire Tony Okafor, Awka A fire outbreak on Saturday killed a 66-year-old woman, Veronica Okwuogu in Awka, the Anambra State capital. The cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report. An eyewitness told our correspondent that the incident which occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday in a residential building saw the deceased trapped. “Fire service people were nowhere to be found. Before help could come to the old woman, she had been burnt beyond recognition”, the source stated. READ ALSO:  Kofi Annan, Adadevoh get 2018 ECOWAS Prize of Excellence The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident to our correspondent. He said, “At about 10:30 a.m., there was a fire incident at a residential quarter behind MACDONS Amuda village Awka in Awka So...

Community protest as suspected herdsmen kill hunter in Ekiti Published June 29, 2019 Kindly Share This Story File copy Abiodun Nejo, Ado -Ekiti Suspected herdsmen on Friday night shot dead a hunter, Emmanuel Ilori, at a farm in Orin Ekiti in the Ido/Osi Council area of Ekiti State. Ilori was said to be hunting for animals alongside his colleagues in the bush when the incident happened around midnight on Friday. A hunter, who witnessed the incident, Mr Adeniyi Ajayi, said that the hunters met the herdsmen, who he said numbered about 30 at an abandoned piggery farm in the town. The hunter said, “When we attempted to inquire what they were doing in the farm, the herdsmen opened fire on us, thus resulting in the death of Mr. Ilori. READ ALSO:  Kofi Annan, Adadevoh get 2018 ECOWAS Prize of Excellence “The herdsmen were kidnappers using the forest as a hideout,” he alleged, adding that the corpse of the hunter had been taken away...

Ruga settlements: FG conceived colonies for all states, may use N2.26bn grazing reserve budget Published June 30, 2019 Kindly Share This Story SUNDAY ABORISADE, KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE, IFEANYI ONUBA, LEKE BAIYEWU and OKECHUKWU NNODIM The Federal Government originally planned to have the controversial Ruga settlements in every part of the country and not only in 11 states. But the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the Ruga initiative had been blown out of proportion. He, however, said no state would be forced to surrender its land to the Federal Government for the project. There are strong indications on Saturday that members of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, may call for the investigation into the Federal Government sponsored Ruga projects for Fulani herdsmen across the country. SUNDAY PUNCH learnt on Saturday that funding arrangements, as well as other thing...

Court dismisses HDP’s request to be removed from presidential petition June 28, 2019 Evelyn Okakwu President Muhammadu Buhari Related News Tribunal reserves ruling on application seeking withdrawal of HDP’s petition against Buhari APC asks court to strike out Atiku's suit on account of 'non-citizenship' Tribunal dismisses petition against Buhari, APC Tribunal dismisses suit seeking to stop Buhari’s inauguration Hope Democratic Party wants tribunal to stop Buhari’s swearing-in The presidential election petition tribunal has dismissed an application brought by a faction of the Hope Democratic Party , seeking its exclusion from the ongoing petition challenging the conduct of the 2019 elections. The tribunal, in a ruling on Thursday, found the party’s application unmeritorious and consequently dismissed it. The Hope Democratic Party faction, led by Tapre Poland, had asked the presidential tribunal to remove its name in the petition on the gr...

  FLASH BACK : FOR THE ATTN. OF GOV.EMEKA IHEDIOHA FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 21, 2014: As Governor Okorocha visits Orlu LGA: a Memo to the T.C.Chairman & the Mayor of Orlu Information has just been passed to me that   Governor Okorocha of Imo State will pay   a working visit to Orlu Local Government Area on Saturday,22 nd March. In view of the fact that such visits will always be hijacked by professional praise singers, hero worshippers and all manner of politicians, I have decided to   present this memo to both the Transitional Council Chairman, MR.Eddy Olumba and the   Mayor of Orlu, DR. Obodo on critical areas of   need which must be included in the   shopping list   that will be handed over to   the Governor when he arrives Orlu. This move has become necessary because the members of the governor’s new found party, All Progressives Congress(APC), and other Otimkpus /loyalists will never allow outsiders to   speak truth to...