Embattled former deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu ,will remain in custody until his next court date on July 7, 2022.
The Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday adjourned the trial of Ekweremadu, on charges of conspiracy and organ harvest.

He is charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The embattled senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District appeared in court in London for a second time on Thursday wearing a grey tracksuit and holding a bible, according to a BBC report.

The report stated no bail application was made and Ekweremadu will remain in custody until his next appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ court on July 7.

It further states the consent of the attorney general is required for the case to continue because part of the alleged offence was committed outside of the United Kingdom.

Ekweremadu is charged alongside with h’s wife Beatrice, 55, who is charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of another person for exploitation and will appear in court later due to a delay in her transport from prison.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has restated the commitment of his administration to prioritizing the welfare of traditional rulers in the State.

Governor Ortom spoke on Thursday, June 30th, 2022 during the coronation and installation of the new Och’Idoma 5th, His Royal Majesty, John Elaigwu Odogbo held at Och’Idoma Square, Otukpo.

The Governor acknowledged that the traditional institution has made tremendous progress in the State, noting that the welfare of traditional rulers has been given top priority since the inception of his administration and pledged to sustain the tempo.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur made available to Peionews on Thursday.

According to the statement, Governor Ortom expressed optimism that a befitting palace, which is at 90 percent completion, would soon be completed and commissioned for the comfort of the Idoma paramount ruler.

While congratulating the new Och’Idoma, Governor Ortom described as divine the ascendancy of the King to the throne and prayed for his reign to be peaceful, urging the subjects to support the new king to succeed.

Making a remark shortly after being presented with a staff of office and certificate of coronation, His Royal Majesty, John Elaigwu Odogbo accepted to serve the Idoma kingdom as its paramount ruler, pointing out that fairness, equity, justice will be his guiding principles in ruling his subjects.

The new Och’Idoma declared that peace will return to Idomaland under his reign, adding that the Idoma kingdom has been handed over to God as a mark of a new dawn.

Tor Tiv the 5th and Chairman, Benue State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Iorzua Ayatse in a goodwill message, assured the new Och’Idoma of support and prayed to God to grant him good health to lead the Idoma nation to the promised land.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kenneth Achabo had presented the new paramount ruler for coronation and installation.

The Attah Igala, Matthew Okpaluwa, Aku Uka of Wukari, Manu Ishaku, Gbom Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba Gyang, among other prominent traditional rulers also attended the occasion and paid homage to the new King.

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark represented by Professor Innocent Ujah, former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson delivered goodwill messages.

Others persons who gave goodwill messages at the ceremony were the representative of the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Maimako Lukman, Senator representing Benue South Senatorial district, Senator Abba Moro and the President Ominy’Igede, Dr Ben Okpa.

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has expressed confidence that the future of the state lies in oil and gas, essentially because of the miraculous discovery of commercial quantity of hydrocarbons in parts of the state.

Engineer Sule disclosed this while playing host to elders of the Alago nation who were on a courtesy call at the Government House, on Wednesday.

According to the Governor, Nasarawa State is blessed when it comes to the area of oil and gas, following the discovery that the initial discovery of hydrocarbons in Keana has extended into some areas in the Benue trough into Obi, Agwatashi and Aloshi parts of the state.

Based on his experience from the oil and gas industry, he described as amazing and unprecedented, for coal deposits to foreshadow substantial oil and gas deposit as it was discovered in Agwatashi area of the state.

“They thought it was just going to be coal in that area but because of the presence of coal that is foreshadowing, and this is the first time in history, with my little knowledge of oil and gas, that I am seeing coal actually covering hydrocarbons and gas.

This is some amazing discovery that have not seen in other places. Believe me, I had the opportunity of seeing oil and gas activities in various states and that’s what took me to Ukraine. In Agwatashi area, the coal is now on top of the hydrocarbon. It’s a big oil. In engineering, it’s a beautiful thing for us,” he explained.

Engineer Sule used the opportunity of the visit to inform the Alago Elders that following concerted attempts by his administration to find use for the completed Lafia Cargo Airport, the efforts finally paid off with President Muhammadu Buhari announcing the decision by the Federal Government to takeover the facility.

Not only that, the Governor added that the Federal Government has agreed to fully compensate the state for the money expended in building the airport.

As the country gears towards the 2023 general elections, Engineer Sule formally announced his decision to retain his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe ahead of the coming governorship election.

He described Akabe as being honest, loyal and a professional like him, stressing that he is ready to swim and sink with his deputy.

Engineer Sule also made case for the Alago nation to belong to no other party than the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially that the nation is positioned to play critical role in the success of the party.

“I therefore call on you, that the Alago nation should have no other party than the APC. Because the truth of the matter is that God has been kind to you and God has been kind to APC by ensuring that we all these working for us,” he stated.

He told the Alago Elders that the Alago nation have more guarantee with the position of the deputy governor than a coming senator.

Engineer Sule equally called on the Alago nation to support the senatorial ambition of his immediate predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, who is seeking to represent the zone for a second term.

“We will do our best as far as the party is concerned, to win this election. We are going to do everything possible within the context of the law to make sure we win this election. Because of that, if we are winning this election, I want to win the election with my brother Dr. Akabe,” he said.

Highlight of the event was when Engineer Sule presented Dr.Akabe with a copy of his nomination form.

In a chat with the Government House press crew shortly after receiving his nomination form, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe said he was overwhelmed by the show of love by his principal, relishing the words the Governor picked to describe him.

He expressed appreciation that all the while, the Governor has been noticing his modest contributions, adding that the decision to pick him on the second part of their journey is an added challenge for him to improve on what he has been doing.

“And I know the kind of person that he is, he requires nothing but the best. And today is a great day. I thank God for it. I thank everybody, all the people of Nasarawa State for their support for the past three and a half years. I know I can’t be perfect, no human being is perfect. But my modest contribution is being noted,” the Deputy Governor said.

In an introductory remarks, leader of the Alago Elders delegation, Senator Hussani Egyagbola, said they were at the Government House to congratulate the Governor on the successful conduct of the party’s primary elections, as well as his sterling performance during the national convention of the party.

Egyagbola said the Alago nation are particularly happy with Engineer Sule for building critical infrastructure such as the Agbashi road which has defied solutions by previous administrations, as well as the Assakio road.

He explained that the Alago nation deeply appreciate the Governor for attracting corporations and businesses to their land, especially the activities and exploration by the NNPC in Keana, Obi and Agwatashi.

Egyagbola pointed out the Alago Elders delegation cut across party lines because the Alago nation are happy with the present administration and assured that they will support Engineer Sule one hundred percent when the time comes.

Group under the auspices of ‘Partnership for Atiku 2023’ on Sunday unveiled it’s logo at the headquarters of Atiku campaign office in Abuja, Ahead of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria,

The National Coordinator, Prince Moses Adebisi said that the group, with membership across the country, is committed to the Atiku project now more that ever before. Adding that the group was birthed to counter the errornous believe by some persons who feel they have the power to control the media in the South West.

According to him, Atiku project is a must for a person like him because he has been on it 2003 and in 2004 he got a response from his principal (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar).

Adebisi who said that they have to redouble their efforts, recalled that there was a slogan by Tinubu which he always maintain and say to people that after Atiku it’s his turn. He therefore called on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress to wait until his principal- Atiku takes its turn first.

Earlier in his remarks, General Secretary of Atiku campaign Organisation, Mr Jide who gave reasons why Nigerians, especially youths should rally round Atiku Abubakar, said he is a unifier, a detribalised man, father to all and he is not a religious bigot, he’s a man who loves everyone and doesn’t not bellitle anybody.

The former Director of Engineering for Aviation, reminded that the problem we are faced with today as a country is that we are disunited, stressing that the only person that can unify us today is Atiku Abubakar. He said this is so because there’s no major tribe that is not inside his house, and as such he cannot come and say I want to discriminate against the West, North, East and South South.

He also identified insecurity as another major challenge facing the nation today and that Atiku is the only person that can secure our borders from smugglers, particularly, give that he rose to number two in customs and everywhere he worked, he delivered convincingly.

He therefore assured the group that there is no support given to Atiku that will be regretted. Jide charged the group to mobilised the youths to work for him as this is the last chance for Nigeria.

In her remarks, the Chairperson and Chief unveiler of the logo , Hajia Miriam Atiku Abubakar commended the members of the group for their consistent and determination to the Atiku project nationwide.

She said the issue here is about our future and about ourselves. Reiterating that this is really a time to deliver, a time for the country to understand who Atiku is and his plans for the country.

Hajia Miriam also offered to extend whatever support the group needs from her.lecalls that leaders of the group from across the the three geopolitical zones graced the unveiling.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has disclosed that a delegation from its Committee on Foreign Affairs would depart Nigeria for London on July 1, 2022, to pay a visit to Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, who are both presently in detention over an allegation of organ harvesting. 

Lawan made this known on Wednesday, while giving details into the outcome of a closed session held by the upper chamber before the start of plenary proceedings.  

The closed door session which started about 10:57 a.m ended at 11:49 a.m.

According to Lawan, the decision to wade into Ekweremadu’s arrest and detention was against the backdrop of a briefing received by the Nigerian High Commissioner to London.

He further disclosed that the Senate would engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian High Commission in London on the recent arrest of Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the London Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.

He said, “I had a personal engagement with our Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain, Alhaji Isola Sarafa, who has done so well to establish contact with our colleague, who has been able to get his team to be in the court at Uxbridge  where Ekweremadu was taken to.

“The high Commission has also been able to provide some consular services that include the engagement of some lawyers who will defend our colleague.

“We commend them for giving attention to the issue at stake. Equally, the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister has been engaged here, so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes steps to provide diplomatic support for our colleague. 

“Because this issue is already in court, we have limited opportunity to discuss beyond what we have done so far.

“But I want to ensure the family of our colleague, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Nigerians, that the Senate will continue to engage with our ministry of foreign affairs as well as our high commission in London. 

“The High Commission has done so much but we still expect that it will continue to provide any other further consular services.

“We have also mandated our committee on foreign affairs to engage with the British high commission here in Nigeria, to find more details on this case, as  as far as the high commission is involved.

“There will be a delegation to London to see Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife. A delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate will leave in the next two days to London for that purpose.

“I want to urge all all federal government institutions that can do anything to ensure that Justice prevails in this case, that they do so.”

Some political parties in the North are secretly working for Labour Party Candidate , His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi.

This was the submission of the Labour Party member in Katsina State, Honourable Ibrahim Abu Musawa.

According to him, “Labour party is the wind that is blowing now, it will be greater than the wind that blew in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari got into power.

“It is a stronger, bigger and greater reflection of that wind.  It’s a revolution that will change our political landscape.

“l believe the general election is going to be for Labour party because Labour party decided to produce the most competent person among all the presidential candidates who happen to be a younger and very sincere person. Somebody that is not an ethnic bigot.

He said it has become quite clear that “a president coming from our state did not stop people from being killed. So many Katsina citizens or natives of the state enter and sleep in their farms when it is 7pm and in the next morning they will come out to their families. So we don’t pray that such government should continue.

“We want a change that is a real change, that is change in nature, not change from one party to another, not change in words only. Change that will connive and betray people just to make yourself and your family happy. We don’t pray that such a change should come around again.

“That is why we are fully in support of Obi. It is not just us but even the APC and the whole political parties underground they are working for labour party not only in Katsina but in the entire part of the North.