Hunger protest: Heavy security on final day, Kano goes spiritual  – Newstrends
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Hunger protest: Heavy security on final day, Kano goes spiritual 

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Hunger protest: Heavy security on final day, Kano goes spiritual 

 

Protesters seeking an end to bad governance and hardship in the country wrapped up their 10-day demonstration on Saturday.

In Abuja and other places there was heavy security presence in major public places to forestall any breakout of violence as the organisers of the protest had earlier threatened to stage a one-million man rally to round off the event.

It was however observed that no rallies were held on the final day of the protests.

But a former country Director of ActionAid Ene Obi led a team in a sit-out at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

The group said the 10-day protest was a huge success, and hoped the government had learnt its lessons and would see the need to continually engage citizens on the issues raised.

The demonstrations across state capitals in Nigeria was tagged the #EndBadGovernance protests and was meant to call attention to the biting hardship in the country.

After the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the foreign exchange rate unification by President Bola Tinubu administration, the cost of essential commodities has astronomically increased, leading to high cost of living.

Although the government has introduced a number of policies including a student loan and a new minimum wage to cushion the effects of the harsh economic conditions, not much has changed.

The mass protests commenced on August 1 to press home demands for reversal of fuel subsidy withdrawal and better governance across all levels.

The protests initially were largely peaceful but turned violent, especially in some parts of the North.

This led to looting and destruction of property. And some state governments had to impose curfew to control the situation.

President Tinubu out of pressure addressed the nation, saying the protesters’ voices had been heard.

He called for dialogue but insisted there would be no reversal of the fuel subsidy removal.

The protesters returned to the streets after the broadcast and vowed not to back down until their requests were met.

Also on Saturday in Kano, some residents of the city went spiritual seeking divine intervention to the many woes of the country.

They observed special prayers despite pressures to cancel the session.

The prayer was observed in many points including the Isyaku Rabiu Mosque at Goron Dutse area in Dala Local Government of the state.

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Money laundering: Court freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Money laundering: Court freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the temporary freezing of 21 bank accounts domiciled in some commercial banks and directed the arrest of the account holders by the police.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

Justice Nwite also granted the “order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATMs while allowing inflow into the said accounts” pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence.

“I am of the view that the motion ex-parte is meritorious.

“The application is hereby granted except that the period of the investigation can only last for a period of 90 days,” Justice Nwite said.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 3 for mention.

The banks are Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Ltd, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank Ltd, United Bank of Africa Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, TAJ Bank Plc and Keystone Bank Plc.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the I-G is the applicant in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1965/V/2024, the 13 banks are sued as 1st to 13 defendants respectively.

The I-G, in the motion filed by Mohammed, sought an interim order directing the listed “banks to freeze the accounts mentioned in the schedule attached to this summon pending investigation and prosecution of this case.

“An order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATM while allowing inflow into the said account as from the date of this court order.

Money laundering: Court freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam 

 

Enraged residents of Hallelujah community in Osun State on Friday beat a newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya, while attempting to conduct Jumat service in the area.

The Ajeniju, who was installed by the Timi of Ede a few months ago, against the will of the Ido-Osun community, was beaten to a pulp by angry youths, saying he had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.

It was gathered that the monarch last week turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community, but while gathering some people at his palace to observe Jumat prayer, some youth from Ido-Osun reportedly invaded the palace and disrupted the prayer session.

Some of the aggrieved youths while shouting at the monarch queried his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch.

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The mob beat the monarch and vandalised the palace before security operatives could intervene.

A security source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that it took the intervention of security operatives to rescue the monarch from the scene.

“The situation escalated, resulting in the vandalization of the palace and a physical attack on Ajenifuja of Hallelujah, who sustained serious injuries.

“He has since been taken to the State CID for further investigation and safety,” said the source.

However, another source in the community disclosed that the monarch had been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security, Hon. Samuel Ojo, said he would not comment on the incident pending the outcome of the investigation on the matter.

Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued eight injured passengers involved in an accident at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba.

The LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.

Bakare-Oki said the road traffic incident which involved a commercial long bus, popularly referred to as ‘Molue,’ at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba, caused severe injuries and significant disruption to traffic.

“The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control at excessive speed, reportedly due to driver impatience.

“In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians awaiting transport at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning.

“Several passengers sustained injuries, while others escaped through the bus’s windows,” he said.

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He said that officers from LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene, executed a well-coordinated and efficient rescue operation.

“Eight individuals, including five males and three females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who sustained a fractured left arm.

“All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention,” he said.

Bakare-Oki said to ensure the free flow of traffic and public safety, LASTMA’s Response Unit was swiftly mobilised to oversee the removal of the overturned vehicle.

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