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Tinubu’s refusal to honour Seyi’s pact with us disappointing – Nnamdi Kanu’s family

Published

3 months ago

January 2, 2025

President Bola ahmed Tinubu and Nnamdi Kanu

Tinubu’s refusal to honour Seyi’s pact with us disappointing – Nnamdi Kanu’s family

The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have expressed disappointment over the failure of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to honour an alleged agreement between his son Seyi , and the family before the 2023 general election.

Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, in a statement, claimed that Seyi with the approval of his father, personally met with him in Abuja shortly before the election, where both parties entered into agreement concerning Kanu.

According to him, it was agreed that IPOB would not bycott the polls on the condition that Tinubu would release Kanu if elected President.

Prince Emmanuel expressed disappointment that nearly two years after the emergence of Tinubu as President, his brother (Kanu), has continued to languish in detention despite the fact that the presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, had since recused herself from the matter.

He said it was disappointing that those who claimed to be honourable, failed to keep their words.

The statement read:”Before the last election, I received a message from an ex-governor that Seyi the son of President Tinubu wanted to see me. I agreed to meet with him on the condition that the overriding priority and hence the fulcrum of our discussion will be the release of my brother. The meeting was held in Abuja in the presence of another individual whom I asked along to witness the deliberations and if need be provide independent verification should the need arise.

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“Seyi confirmed to me that his father sanctioned the meeting and that I should consider any agreement we reach as binding on the then candidate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“In good faith we agreed that I shall relay the outcome to my brother to reinforce the long held tradition of IPOB not interfering with the conduct of elections, either through boycott or any other form of civil disobedience. This understanding was duly communicated to my brother and he reaffirmed his commitment not to stop the elections or order any boycott.

“When President Tinubu as a candidate visited Owerri during his campaign, he too reiterated his commitment to facilitate the release of my brother if elected. We took his public statement as a tacit reaffirmation of the understanding I reached with his son Seyi.

“At the end, IPOB did not call for election boycott despite having the capacity to do so. IPOB also made sure that discordant voices urging election boycott were overcome because election boycotts would not reflect well on the reputation of a global movement that prides itself on adherence to democratic tenets.

“It therefore, defies logic that nearly two years after President Tinubu assumed the mantle of leadership in Nigeria, my brother is still in detention despite not having any charge against him. It’s been over three months now that Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the case yet no new judge has been assigned the case.

“This is on top of the fact that Appeal Court had earlier discharged him of the sham charges and ordered his release which the previous regime of Buhari declined to obey.

“Supreme Court determination that his bail ought not to have been revoked has been ignored by the courts and the government. The latest insult is that Abuja courts of all persuasion are no longer willing to determine the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on merit but are rather relying on ludicrous and inapplicable technicalities to stall the timely determination of his cases.

“The truth is that Nigerian courts cannot, will not and do not have both the substantive and procedural jurisdiction to try him. His detention is without the backing of any known law in Nigeria or elsewhere in the world.

“It’s a shame that those who claim to be men of honour cannot honour their word.”

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How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

Published

42 minutes ago

April 5, 2025

Trends Admin

How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

The bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba, in the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State was triggered by a scavenger.

The explosion claimed the life of the scavenger and left three others severely injured.

Findings by Chronicle NG revealed that the scavenger was attempting to dismantle military-grade grenades with the intention of collecting them as part of the scrap metal he was searching for.

The yet-to-be-identified scavenger was handling one of the grenades when it detonated, killing him instantly.

Three other victims, whose names and addresses are also unknown, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

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SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At 13:30 hours on April 3, 2025, a distress call was received by the EOD unit based in Ikeja that there was a bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba. Our team of EOD-CBRN operatives was swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“On arrival, the team ensured the area was safe, and after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by military-grade grenades that had been tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of them. Sadly, the scavenger lost his life at the scene, while three others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.”

Hundeyin also confirmed that the scene was secured and photographed and crucial evidence was collected for analysis.

“The deceased’s body has been moved to a public mortuary for autopsy, and an investigation has been initiated. Further developments will be communicated,” he added.

How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

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Pro-Wike rally organisers insist on holding event despite court order

Published

52 minutes ago

April 5, 2025

Trends Admin

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike

Pro-Wike rally organisers insist on holding event despite court order

A planned rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, scheduled for April 12 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, is expected to proceed as planned despite a court order purportedly halting the gathering.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, George Turnah, factional South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the court ruling has been misinterpreted and does not stop their event.

According to Turnah, the gathering is being hosted by a group called New Associates and is meant to launch the Bayelsa State chapter of the group. He clarified it is also an opportunity to thank President Tinubu for appointing several Bayelsa natives into key government roles.

He stated: “Our rally, as we have said and made public, is for the purpose of inaugurating a group called and known as the New Associates, Bayelsa State Chapter, and then to thank and appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State into positions of trust in the country. That is the purpose. It is not the purpose that this court’s order captures.”

Turnah argued that the court order did not mention banning rallies for the reasons they intend, saying: “We are going ahead. We are going ahead.”

“It’s just like saying ‘Don’t hold press conference in Cubana Hotel for the purpose of listening to George Turner.’ It doesn’t stop practitioners from holding press conference in Cubana for the purpose of listening to Jeremiah,” he explained.

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He emphasized that no plans had been made to invite Minister Wike to the rally.

“There was no time that we as a group, gave out a notice that we are going to host Minister Wike,” he said. “Wike, as of today, is not in our plans or programme to be in Bayelsa. We have not even extended invitations to Wike to come.”

However, he acknowledged Wike’s indirect role in helping Bayelsa citizens by recommending them for key positions. “While thanking Mr. President, we will also say thank you, Wike, for recommending and trusting that this class of persons can contribute to helping Mr. President deliver on his mandate,” Turnah added.

He dismissed claims that Wike’s rumoured visit was part of the rally, saying such talk is political. He also criticised the introduction of ethnic sentiments into the situation, warning it could harm national unity.

Turnah said they did not owe any explanations to Governor Douye Diri: “We don’t owe the governor and it’s a private group. We don’t owe him, we are not inviting him, so we don’t need to inform him.”

“The level of incitement against my person by Governor Diri can be likened to, in the words of Governor Fubara, ‘when a man cocks a gun, and maybe because the gun is in safety and the bullets didn’t come out, the man has already killed you.’”

Turnah added, “Let it be known by all the people of Bayelsa State, the Ijaw Nation, and Nigeria that on the 28th of March 2025, His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of my State, pulled a dangerous trigger against me but, to the glory of God, I am still alive today to tell the story.”

He said he remains committed to peaceful political engagement and credited former President Goodluck Jonathan for shaping his political life.

“My gratitude to him and his entire household, particularly my mother and his dear wife, Dame Dr Patience Jonathan, is for life,” he said. “I shall continue to be guided by the virtues of loyalty, humility, kindness, affection, dedication, commitment, trustworthiness, and self-discipline instilled in me by my mentor of all times, and father, President Jonathan.”

Pro-Wike rally organisers insist on holding event despite court order

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Autopsy reveals cause of Nigerian boxer death during fight in Ghana

Published

59 minutes ago

April 5, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerian boxer, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju

Autopsy reveals cause of Nigerian boxer death during fight in Ghana

An autopsy conducted on late Nigerian boxer, Olanrewaju Segun, popularly known as ‘Success’, has confirmed that the 40-year-old athlete died from sudden cardiac arrest during his bout in Ghana.

Secretary-General of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) and President of the West African Boxing Union, Remi Aboderin, disclosed the findings, which came from preliminary post-mortem results.

“The preliminary post-mortem results indicate that Segun died from sudden cardiac arrest.But further investigation into his heart condition is required, and as a result, his body will not be released to Nigeria for burial until approximately two weeks,” Aboderin said.

The autopsy was carried out on Wednesday, April 2, following a court order initiated after the boxer’s sudden death during a professional match in Accra.

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Olanrewaju collapsed mid-fight last Saturday during his match against Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu at Fight Night 15, part of the Ghana Professional Boxing League. He was ahead on points in their eight-round light-heavyweight contest when the tragedy struck.

Medical personnel at the Bukom Boxing Arena responded immediately, entering the ring to remove his gum shield and attempt resuscitation. Despite being swiftly transported to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Until his passing, Olanrewaju had carved out a significant boxing career. A former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, he turned professional in 2019, racking up 24 fights—13 wins (12 by knockout), nine losses, and two draws.