Village Square News

ASUU HOLD CRUCIAL NEC MEETING ON SUNDAY  plans to take critical decision on six month industrial action  Village Square News report  The National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will hold tomorrow in Abuja to take a major decision of whether to suspend or continue with the six-month industrial action Principall officers and branch chairmen are already in Abuja for the make or mar crucial NEC meeting that will determine the fate of millions of Nigerian students, who have been at home since February 14, 2022. Ahead of the crucial meeting, branch congresses were held on Tuesday and Wednesday across the universities and the resolutions would be discussed at the NEC meeting. Already, some state universities such as Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso and Delta State University, have pulled out of the ongoing strike. Lagos State University, Osun State University and others d

*CONTEMPT OF COURT : HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER REGAINS FREEDOM*    _Received heroic welcome by friends and associates_  Human rights lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong on Friday morning regained freedom after spending exactly one month at the Uyo Correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State. He was received by a crowd of friends, admirers and activists who mobilised to give him a heroic welcome home. Effiong was sentenced to one month in prison on July 27, 2022 by Akwa Ibom Chief Judge Justice Ekaette Obot for contempt of court. He is the lead counsel the libel suit instituted by Governor Udom Emmanuel and Senator Effiong Bob, against Mr Leo Ekpenyong which was on its last day for prosecution. Effiong is the defense counsel to Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit suits Nos HU/279/2019 and HU/273/2019 respectively. Speaking while addressing the cheering crowd at Willington Bassey Way Uyo, Inihehe Effiong expressed appreciation to God for making the day possible, adding that history will alw

*NBC  SUSPENDS CLOSURE OF INDEBTED STATIONS*  Village Square News   _commission receives positive responses from indebted stations_  The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has temporarily suspended the planned suspension of operational licenses of 52 broadcast stations over the N2.6 billion license renewal fee. NBC in a statement signed by the director general, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, said the commission received positive responses from debtors, hence it decided to temporarily suspend the implementation of its order. The statement reads: “The National Broadcasting Commission, on Friday, August 19th, 2022, issued a shutdown notice to licensees that are indebted to the commission. N2.6bn debt: NBC suspends closure of indebted stations N2.6bn debt: NBC suspends closure of indebted stations “Following the ultimatum, the commission received positive responses from the debtor licensees, including big players in the broadcast industry. “Sequel to a follow-up meeting held with e

SSANU, NASU Suspends Strike  The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions (NASU) on Saturday suspended their strike actions after a brief meeting with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu in Abuja. The suspension is expected to take effect from Wednesday. According to the education minister, the Federal Government has committed N50 billion to pay earned allowances for members of SSANU, NASU and the Academic Staff Union of Universities. However, activities in public universities are expected to remain limited as ASUU remains on strike. Minister Adamu, who had hinted of SSANU and NASU’s strike suspension on Thursday, said ASUU rejected the government’s proposal over the “no work, no pay” rule. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, ASUU’s President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said salary backlogs must be cleared before lecturers return to the classroom. “If we agree on

Village Square reports  LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT EXTENDS OKADA BAN TO MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT  Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin, Kosofe, and Shomolu LG inclusive  Lagos State Government has extended the ban on commercial motorcycles,l (okada) to four more Local Government Areas and five Local Council Development Areas. The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, confirmed this on Thursday. According to him, the decision was taken after a review of the earlier ban on commercial motorcycles operation in six local councils. The additional councils where the total Okada ban is pronounced include Kosofe Local Government, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Shomolu Local Government, and Mushin Local Government. Others are Ikosi-Isherri LCDA, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Isolo LCDA, Bariga LCDA, and Odi-Olowo LCDA. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered full enforcement from September 1, 2022. Governor Sanwo-Olu had imposed a fresh okada ban in six local government areas and nine Local

Village square reports LAGOS SECURITY: DEBACLE OF UNCOMPLETED BRT CUBICLES  The attention of the Lagos state government and its agent is once again drawn to the uncompleted cubicles of BRT buses on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway which is becoming a habitat for criminals and destitute at night. Over four years after the BRT buses and routes commissioned by the past Administration of Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode, it's appalling that the cubicles which ought to serve as ticketing points have not been completed and vandalized with some still in the state of destruction of endears protest one year after making it a scrappy structure, same uncompleted stories at Oshodi Bus terminal with some of the infrastructure getting decayed and used for the wrong purposes in antagonist nature to the core design. When would the Bus terminal be 100% completed and give Oshodi and Lagos the planned transport service before the project becomes an elephant project? If truly secu

Village Square reports  CAMPAIGN POSTALS BANNED IN PUBLIC PLACES BY ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT UNLESS... - Listed rates to be paid by candidates  - warned ,defaulters would be prosecuted   Ahead of the commencement of campaigns for the 2023 elections in September, the Anambra State Government has banned the pasting of posters on bridges and road demarcations along the streets. The state also prohibited the pasting of campaign posters on street light poles; round-abouts and other public buildings and places. These were stated in a press statement signed by the Managing Director, Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency, Tony Odili Ujubuonu. In the statement made available to journalists on Saturday, Ujubuonu mandated presidential candidates to pay N10m, senatorial candidates to N7m, federal house of representatives to pay N5m and state house of assembly to N1m. Ujubuonu said the payments would make them eligible to paste their campaign posters in the state. According to him, suc

Village square reports  HIGH COURT PROHIBITS CURFEW FOR ORO FESTIVAL  An high court sitting in ibadan Oyo state has pronounced the curfew by oro worshippers as illegal. While delivering judgement in a suit instituted by Alfa Yusuf Mutidee. ( for himself and on behalf of the league of Imams and Alfas in Iseyin , Justice S.I.Akintola of the state high court held that the parties involved should settle the dispute between them on the terms that neither the applicant nor the respondent shall disturb,harrass , intimidate or attack either in the exercise of their religion beliefs . Parties involved in the dispute shall bear respective cost. The court further held" that the parties to this suit and respective counsel shall execute the terms of settlement dated 29th June 2022 and filed on the same date in this case . The said terms of settlement is Herby adopted and pronounced as judgement of this suit" This crisis erupted during annual Oro festival celebration in Iseyin

Village square reports  ONDO STATE GOVERNOR CLEARS AIR ONDO STATE CHURCH ATTACKERS  The attention of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has been drawn to the announcement of Idris Ojo as one of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, arrested by the security agencies. Governor Akeredolu acknowledged the confusion the statement has created in the public space, considering that the ugly event of June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison. The Governor said there was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Governor Akeredolu explained that Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure. “The announcement of the arrest of Idris Ojo as one of the perpetrators of the June 5 attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo was a mix up from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. “Idris Ojo, who is number 14

SIERRA LEONE CITIZEN  EMBARKED ON MASSIVE PROTEST AGAINST HARSH  ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY  --- Government declares curfew  Village square reports  10th August, 2022 Sierra Leone announced a nationwide curfew on Wednesday in response to violent anti-government protests that it said had caused an unspecified number of deaths, including among the security forces. The West African country, which has been struggling with rising inflation and a fuel crisis, imposed the curfew from 3 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) in a bid to stem the violence. Videos on social media showed large crowds of protesters and piles of burning tyres in parts of the capital, Freetown. Other footage showed a group of young men throwing rocks on a street filled with whitish smoke. “People are upset about the country’s justice system which is sickening, daily price rises and economic hardship,” said Daniel Alpha Kamara, a university student. The violence started at around 10:30 a.m. local time, he said

Village square reports  Detectives of Surulere Division of the Lagis state has arrested a serial love crime syndicate . The suspect robbed the women of their 3 iPhones 12, 2 iPhones 11 Pro Max, 1 iPhone XR, one Nokia phone, one wristwatch and one gold necklace, with a total value of N2,368,000 Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect has no fixed address but lures women to different hotels where he drugs and robs them clean. Investigations further reveal that he has robbed over thirty women since he ventured into this crime. While the stolen items have all been recovered before he could dispose of them, investigation is on to apprehend receivers of stolen items he works with. Suspects will be arraigned at the end of investigation. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, fdc assures all residents of Lagos that the command will continue to work towards the decimation of crime and criminality in the Centre of Excellence. He equa

A former inspector general of the Nigerian Police Force, Tafa Balogun is dead. Balogun, who was eased out of office by the then president Olusegun Obasanjo over corruption allegations, reportedly died of heart related diseases in Reddington Hospital, Lagos today Thursday August 4, 2022. Sources said he had been down for a while before passing on moments ago. He was 75 years old

NIGERIA'S FORMER DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT  REMANDED IN BRITISH  PRISON  CUSTODY TILL OCTOBER 2023  The travail of Nigeria's former deputy senate president Ike Ekweremandu continues in Uk as his case In alleged organ harvesting plot  was adjourned till October 2023 when his provisional trial would begin in London high court. On Thursday, his wife Beatrice Ekweremadu, who is on bail, appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea and directions hearing. Ekweremadu and Dr. Obinna Obeta, the third accused attended the session by video link from Wandsworth and Belmarsh prisons.   The defendants were not asked to enter pleas during the hearing and spoke only to confirm their identities. Judge Richard Marks QC said the case would be heard by a High Court judge. He identified a provisional trial from May 2 next year with an estimated length of three to four weeks. A further plea and case management hearing was rescheduled for October 31.   The judge granted Mrs. Ekweremadu continued