The arrested suspected kidnapper, Opeyemi Segun also known as omo-jesu wrote a letter to a private university in Oyo town, threatening to abduct three students if the school management fails to pay him 10 million naira.

While pararding the suspects, at the Oyo state police headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso disclosed that the command intercepted the suspected criminals namely; Ibrahim Olusola, Ismaila Afeez, Ibrahim Isiaka, Tijani Habeeb, Wasiu Salawu, Opeyemi Segun and Ibrahim Balogun at different areas of the state.

Osifeso further listed items recovered from the suspects to include one double barrel locally made gun, one live catridge, one Mazda bus, and a Toyota Corolla car, adding that the culprits would be charged to court once the police are done with their investigations.

Fielding questions from newsmen, one of the suspects, Ibrahim Olusola confessed to the crime while the suspects accused of sending a threat letter to a private university in Oyo town denied the allegation.

Some of the witnesses who pleaded anonymity narrated their experiences on how the suspected criminals disrupted their activities and carted away some of their belongings.

They however appreciated the effort of the Oyo state police command for a quick investigation into the reported case.

The post OYO STATE POLICE COMMAND ARRESTS  KIDNAP KINGPIN, OPEYEMI SEGUN appeared first on Fresh 105.3 FM.

It was observed that power generation on the national grid recorded an off-peak of 2,551.7MW on Monday and rose to a peak of 4,688.6MW the same day, but this dropped to 4,185.9MW as at 6am on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, members of NUEE and SSAEAC picketed the offices of TCN nationwide, shutting down operations at the facilities and threatening to begin an indefinite strike from today (Wednesday).

Speaking during the protest at the headquarters of TCN in the Federal Capital Territory, the NUEE Secretary in charge of Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi Liaison Office, Kolade Ayodele, said TCN’s board, which had the power minister as member, had reneged on agreements reached with the unions.

He said, “The action today is happening all over Nigeria, not only in Abuja. It is because we have rules. There is the condition of service that binds the unions and the management together. You can see that the action here is being held by NUEE and SSAEAC.

“There was a directive given by the (TCN) board which contravenes the condition of service and that is why we are here to picket them. This is a warning, for if nothing is being done, tomorrow (Wednesday) we are going to withdraw our services nationwide.

“That means there will be total shutdown. Presently all TCN offices in Nigeria are under lock and key. Today, they wanted to carry the minister’s vehicle but we had already locked the office and we said no. They can’t carry the vehicle, and it is even good because the minister was part of the board.”

Ayodele said there was an agreement in 2019 for the Market Operator of TCN to pay some money to the staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, “but they refused to pay the money up till now.”

He added, “The agreement was signed in 2019 and the government directed the Market Operator of TCN to pay, but they have refused. Also, there is an Electricity Reform Act and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation is going against the Act.

“If there is an Act, it supersedes any circular, but the head of service is now bringing a kangaroo circular that those who have worked before in PHCN cannot be employed again.

“When they did the privatisation, those who worked for five years were paid for five years and many of them are still young. So are you saying you don’t want them to work anywhere? These are the main issues.”

The NUEE official stated that if the government and TCN agreed to listen to the union, there would be no problem, “but if they refuse to listen today (Tuesday), then by tomorrow (Wednesday) we will have to withdraw our services.”

Ayodele said he could not state the exact amount being owed workers of the union, but stressed that there was an agreement reached in December 2019 and that it must be upheld.

Asked to state how long the strike would last, he replied, “For as long as the issue is not being resolved.”

The spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, had yet to respond to an enquiry that was sent to her on what the transmission company was doing regarding the demands and threat of the electricity unions.

Also, the General Secretary, NUEE, Joe Ajaero, told our correspondent that no positive response had been received from the government as at Tuesday night, but noted that the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, had pleaded for two weeks to address the situation.

“Premised on the foregoing, we may be constrained to continue with this action by Wednesday, August 17, 2022, with total withdrawal of services,” he stated.

Ajaero added, “However, the union is still open to decisive discussions with relevant actors, with a view to proffering solutions to the issues raised and averting the total collapse of the sector.”

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“The NCTC is established in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as the coordinating body for the harmonization of all counter terrorism and terrorism financing efforts in the country,” a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina said.

“The NCTC is equally charged with the coordination of counter terrorism policies, strategies, plans and support in the performance of the functions of the National Security Adviser (NSA), as provided in the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“Before his appointment, Rear Admiral Musa had been the Director of the Counter Terrorism Directorate in the ONSA since 2017. He was responsible for the review of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), and the creation of the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), which President Buhari signed into law in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

“Additionally, the retired Naval senior officer served as the Nigerian representative at the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) for the last 3 years.

“His appointment is to take effect immediately and to run for an initial term of 5 years.”

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Ukpawanne was arraigned before a court-martial set up by the Nigerian Navy in Delta state on four counts.

He was said to have been found guilty of disobeying standing order, attempting to commit sodomy; disgraceful conduct and wrong use of drugs.

The offences were said to be punishable under sections 57, 95; 93; 65 (1) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

In a memo sighted by newsmen on Tuesday, the officer was awarded one-year loss of seniority, six months imprisonment, another six months imprisonment and lastly one-year imprisonment for all four offences.

The memo with Reference: NHQ: 08/68/93/A/Vol.XVIII/399 was titled, ‘Confirmation of court martial punishment -SLT VN Ukpawanne NN/4440’.

It read, “Sequel to Reference A regarding NHQ approval and Confirmation of Court Martial Punishment for the officer named above who attempted to commit Sodomy amidst other offences on 27 Oct 21 with one teenager, (name withheld), close to Sapele Stadium, On 15 Aug 22 at about 1035, the officer was officially paraded and his sentences were read accordingly.

The charges against the officer include the following:

2004: Disobedience to Standing Order – punishable under section 57 of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

2004: Attempt to Commit Sodomy – punishable under section 95 of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

2004: Disgraceful Conduct – punishable under section 93 of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

2004: Wrongful use of drug/Controlled Substance – punishable under section 65 (1) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

Accordingly, the officer in violation of all sections listed above was awarded one-year loss of seniority, six months imprisonment, another six months imprisonment and lastly one-year imprisonment for all four offences.

Pertinently, all imprisonment sentences are to run concurrently.

“The dismissed officer is currently awaiting medical clearance from the Naval Medical Centre before handing over to Sapele Correctional Center for commencement of imprisonment term.”

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The workers embarked on industrial action on Wednesday and withdrew their services from the Kaduna Regional Headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria in line with the union’s national leadership directive.

However, the minister on Wednesday afternoon, invited the union to a meeting aimed at resolving their grievances.

“The Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, has invited the electricity workers, who have shut down their services nationwide, for an urgent meeting in Abuja. The meeting will hold at 4 pm today,” according to an anonymous source.

Recall it was reported earlier that the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, claimed that the protesting workers do not have issues with his ministry but with the Head of Service.

Aliyu, however, assured Nigerians that the government has “all the ingredients” to solve the supply challenge soon.

On Wednesday morning, the NUEE withdrew its services from the Kaduna Regional Headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria according to the directive of the union’s national leadership.

NUEE officials cordoned off the Mando TCN Station in the Kaduna state capital, cutting all operations, and forcing workers out of the company’s premises before locking the gate.

They are protesting the nonpayment of outstanding arrears owed to former workers of the now-defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, suspension of conditions of service and career path for workers and the directive by the TCN board to conduct promotion interviews for acting principal managers who are moving to Assistant General Managers.

The workers said the TCN Kaduna office which oversees operations in Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, will resume operations only after the Federal Government meets all their demands.

It was also reported earlier that the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company announced a shutdown of operations following the issues between the National Union of Electricity Employees and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

“Due to the ongoing nationwide picketing of Transmission Stations by the NUEE, we are currently experiencing disruption of power supply as most stations within our network have been shut down.

“Kindly bear with us as we await an amicable resolution by the relevant stakeholders,” Ikeja Electric said in a statement shared on its Twitter page.

The organised labour had directed workers in the power sector to shut down and commence an indefinite strike over pending issues with the TCN.

The aggrieved workers under the aegis of the NUEE were at the Abuja national headquarters of the TCN Tuesday as a prelude to the proposed strike.

The union noted that the strike was in protest of a directive by the TCN Board mandating all PMs in acting capacity going to the Annual General Meeting to appear for promotional interviews.

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