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Respite for Lekki residents, Shoprite reopens two years after #EndSARS protest

Published

1 year ago

October 23, 2022

Shoprite on Friday commenced activities at its store in Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki area of Lagos, after a 24-month-long closure.

Economic activities at the mall were brought to a halt following a series of looting incidents which occurred on the heels of the nationwide #EndSARS protests in 2020.

Mr. Hubertus Rick, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Supermarket Nigeria Ltd (RSNL), owners of Shoprite in Nigeria, said the mall’s reopening was in line with the RSNL’s quest to make formal retail formats accessible to more Nigerians while rebuilding the economy.

This, he explained, was over the years, Shoprite Nigeria had made significant contributions to the nation’s economy.

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He noted that the company currently boasts of 10,000 staff; directly and indirectly employed with a supply chain of more than 300 leading Nigerian suppliers, and partnership with many small businesses, farmers, suppliers of an assortment of local brands.

“Two years ago, we made a tough decision to shut down operations at the Shoprite Circle Mall in response to the insecurity situation.

“The closure was in the interest of our customers as well as our staff as we had to prioritise the safety of lives and properties ahead of other interests.

“Today, we’re happy to commence operations again as we have put measures in place to ensure the safety of all who will walk through our doors.

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Court fixes May 9 for Agunloye’s ₦1bn suit against EFCC

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Trends Admin

Former Power and Steel Minister Olu Agunloye

Court fixes May 9 for Agunloye’s ₦1bn suit against EFCC

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, fixed May 9 for hearing in a ₦1 billion suit filed by Dr Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Power and Steel under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after EFCC’s lawyer, Abba Mohammed, sought an adjournment to enable him to regularise his processes before the court.

When the matter was called for a report of service, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who is the 2nd defendant in the suit, was not represented in court.

Justice Nwite then asked Agunloye’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, if the AGF had been served and he responded in affirmative. The senior lawyer told the court that though the EFCC filed a motion to regularise their processes, he was not opposing the application.

Mohammed, however, applied that the court file be given to him to verify if their processes were in the court record but Adedipe objected to the request.

“I object to that my lord. I have never seen such practice before where a court file is shown to a party,” he said.

Adedipe further argued that since the matter was ripe for hearing, he sought the leave of court to proceed on the matter if the anti-graft agency’s lawyer had no defence. But Mohammed prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to put their house in order, even as the AGF was not represented in court.

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The judge, who adjourned the matter until May 9 for a hearing, directed that the hearing notice be served on the 2nd defendant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had, on March 1, reported that the ex-minister had filed the suit against EFCC over allegations that the commission published his name on its website’s wanted list.

Agunloye, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/167/2024 and filed by his team of lawyers led by Adedipe, also joined the AGF as 2nd defendant.

In the originating summons, dated and filed February 8, the ex-minister sought six reliefs, including a declaration that the EFCC cannot lawfully exercise its discretion, powers and or functions under Sections 1(2\(c\, 6, 7, 13 of the EFCC Act, 2004, ditto Section 4 of the Police Act 2020, by declaring him wanted on its official website or any other related platform.

Agunloye said this was without recourse to any safeguard in Sections 34({1)(a), 35, 37, 39, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including a judicial intervention, order or leave of court under Sections 1(1), 8(1) & 42(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

He, therefore, sought an order for the EFCC, its agents, privies, representatives and other related affiliates to forthwith remove his picture, name, references, details and or particulars from the wanted list published on its official website or any other related platform.

He also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and the AGF, “both jointly or severally, whether by themselves or their staff, from further declaring the plaintiff wanted.

“General damages of one billion naira (₦1, 000, 000, 000 00) against the defendants, especially the 1st defendant cost of this action.”

Court fixes May 9 for Agunloye’s ₦1bn suit against EFCC

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2 top bandit kingpins, 12 others killed in supremacy battle

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Trends Admin

2 top bandit kingpins, 12 others killed in supremacy battle

Two prominent bandit kingpins, Kachala Gwande and Kachallah Madagwal as well as 12 other fighters have been killed after a confrontation erupted at Kaurar Zomo village in the Kunchin Kalgo district of Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State.

The deadly fight involved three rival bandit groups operating in the area.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, that Alhaji Tsauni’s group, Kachallah Jafaru’s group, and Kachallah Gwandu’s group, clashed in a fierce gun battle, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at approximately 15:45 hours, resulting in the reported deaths of over 10 bandits from the three factions.

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Jafaru, a notorious bandit kingpin known to operate from Faskari LGA in Katsina state, descended upon Kaurar Zomo village, which serves as Tsauni’s stronghold, under undisclosed circumstances that led to the violent confrontation.

Jafaru’s fighters were said to have overpowered and naturalised Gwande and his fighters.

The fight, however, escalated to other enclaves shortly after the news of Gwande’s death broke, resulting in another heavy gun battle with Kachallah Madagwal’s group, who was neutralised in the aftermath of the shootout.

Zagazola understands that several bandits who sustained severe gunshot wounds were promptly evacuated to Munhaye Health Facility for urgent medical attention.

2 top bandit kingpins, 12 others killed in supremacy battle

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Troops rescue another Chibok girl with three children in Borno

Published

22 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Trends Admin

Lydia Simon with the children

Troops rescue another Chibok girl with three children in Borno

Lydia Simon, another abducted Chibok schoolgirl, was rescued by troops from Operation Desert Sanity III, part of the North-East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), on Wednesday.

She was rescued along with her three children by the troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion in Gwoza LGA of Borno State on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, exactly ten years after she was kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists alongside over 200 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014.

Intelligence sources, according to Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region, revealed that Lydia, who was tagged serial number 68 among the abducted schoolgirls, escaped from the camp of Ali Ngulde in Mandara Mountain where she was held in captivity for several years.

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She surrendered to troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion at Ngoshe in Gwoza LGA of the State. The rescued Chibok girl was five months pregnant and claimed she was from Pemi Town in Chibok LGA.

April 14, 2024, marks the 10th anniversary of the violent abduction of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents.

While 57 of the girls escaped from their captors in the following days, 16 were later rescued and 107 had at different times been released through negotiations.

The Federal and Borno State Governments, including the Nigerian Army, have pledged their commitment toward rescuing the rest of the abducted schoolgirls that were still held in captivity by the terrorists.