Tag: Nigeria

A 16-year-old boy who went missing off the coast of Queensland when his boat broke down was reportedly killed by a crocodile. 

 

His body, riddled with bitemarks, was recovered following a frantic search by Australian cops.

 

The boy, 16, had vanished after his dinghy broke down north of Saibai Island, in Torres Strait waters, early Thursday morning, April 18. 

 

According to police, the boat had taken on the water under harsh weather. 

 

At Saibai Island, a 13-year-old alerted the authorities, saying his crewmate didn’t manage to swim to shore. 

 

Cops conducted a frantic search and the body of the teen was found.

 

 

Officials described how the body sustained injuries consistent with an attack from a 3.5-metre crocodile.

 

Wildlife officer Simon Booth, from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, said: “We have resources on the island and are working with Queensland Police to identify an animal that may have been responsible. 

 

“Certainly the community have indicated they would like the crocodile removed from the wild, and that’s consistent with the Queensland government management plan following an attack on a person.” 

 

 

Senior Sergeant Greg Giles added: “A foot search was conducted along the shoreline of Saibai Island where they located the body. 

 

“We weren’t sure at that stage if the boy had unfortunately drowned or if he had been taken by a crocodile.

 

“Police are still investigating to confirm the identity of that body.”

 

 

More testing is taking place to determine the cause of death.

 

According to a representative for Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, wildlife inspectors will now examine the waters near Saibai Island in an attempt to locate the crocodile involved.

 

“The local community has requested the animal involved in the incident be removed from the wild,” the department spokesperson said.

 

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation wildlife officers have been assisting police with the search.

 

A statement read the department “extended its condolences to the family and friends of a teenager who died in waters off Saibai Island early yesterday morning”.

 

Acting Inspector Anthony Moynihan of Queensland Police Torres Strait believes the youngsters abandoned the 5m fibreglass ‘banana boat’ about 500m north of the island after the engine failed.

 

He confirmed that the younger teenager had been evaluated by paramedics and was now safe back home with his family.

 

“He’s in a bit of shock at the moment,” he told ABC News.

 

The pair are believed to be cousins.

 

The former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has again been suspended by another faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in his district, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

Ganduje is the party’s National chairman.

Earlier, Malam Haladu Gwanjo, who claimed to be the legal advisor to another APC faction in the Ganduje area, announced the suspension of Ganduje from the party, citing alleged corruption as the reason behind the suspension. 

The legal adviser maintained that Ganduje no longer deserved to be the party’s chairman because of the allegations of corruption and other vices levelled against him.

However, another faction represented by the ward chairman, Malam Ahmad Ganduje, had declared their support for Ganduje, saying the ward officials were satisfied with his leadership style.

But according to the News Agency of Nigeria, in a new twist on Sunday, Malam Ja’afar Ganduje, the secretary of another faction of the party in the ward, who addressed newsmen on the issue, said the chairman’s suspension was based on his alleged anti-party conduct.

He added that records showed Ganduje did not pay his legal dues to the party. 

He further accused Ganduje of contributing to the fractionalisation of the party at ward level which he said had brought the party into disrepute.

“We are the authentic executives of Ganduje district and we have passed a vote of no confidence and imposed a fresh suspension on Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“First we have the membership of Dr. Ganduje suspended for causing internal conflict among party members at ward level.

“Another major reason why the authentic executives decided to suspend Ganduje is the issue of anti-party activities he generated during the 2023 elections which resulted in the failure of the party in the state,” he said.

SaharaReporters had also reported how a Kano State High Court last Wednesday morning granted an ex parte order restraining Ganduje, from parading himself as a member of the party.

The court ruled that Ganduje should no longer preside over all affairs of the APC’s NWC.
 

But Ganduje has obtained a court order stopping his suspension from the ruling APC.

Ganduje in a court document dated April 17, 2024, with Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/122/2021 and seen by SaharaReporters on Thursday, filed a counter-motion Exparte on April 16, 2024 before Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, the state capital.

Ganduje in the application pleaded for an order of the “Honourable Court restraining all the Respondents, their servants, agents or privies from Implementing and or given effect to the purported decision reached during the purported emergency meeting of the alleged Executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, held at Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State on the 15th April, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application for the enforcement of fundamental rights of the Applicant.

“An order mandating all the parties to maintain status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged Executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay all action in respect of this matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.”

Granting Ganduje’s prayers, Justice Liman stated, “After reading the affidavit in support of Motion sworn to by Sulaiman A. Sulaiman, Adult, Male, Muslim, and a Nigerian Citizen of No. 38 Bargery Road, Kano, and filed at the Court Registry.

“And after hearing Jazuli Mustapha Esq. with Hadiza Nasir Ahmad Esq. move in terms of the Motion Paper, it is hereby ordered as follows:

“That all the Respondents, their servants, agents or privies are hereby restrained from implementing and or given effect to the purported decision reached during the purported emergency meeting of the alleged Executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, held at Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State on the 15th April, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application for the enforcement of fundamental rights of the Applicant.

“That all the parties are hereby mandated to maintain status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged Executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay all action in respect of this matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.

“That the matter is fixed for 30th April 2024 for hearing.”

Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa took to social media today, April 20, to share her experience at a party in Lagos. 

 

In the video she shared, Abike said everyone was scared to spray money at the birthday party. This is coming after the recent arraignment of some popular Nigerians by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

 

She further disclosed that the birthday party was fun. 

 

Watch the video below…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is set for its governorship primary where 171,922 delegates will decide who will fly the flag of the party in the November 16 governorship election.

 

Drawn from the 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state, the delegates have to decide whether the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has done enough to earn their franchise to contest for the election or a new face among the 15 other aspirants should be given the opportunity to compete for the state’s top job.

 

Inaugurating the seven-member governorship primary election committee headed by the Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo on Thursday, the party’s embattled national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, appealed to them to collaborate and be focused to ensure a hitch-free process.

 

The aspirants are Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor; Wale Akinterinwa; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; Olusola Oke; Prof Francis Faduyile; Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and Mayowa Akinfolarin.

 

Others are Olusoji Ehinlanwo; Okunjimi Odimayo; Isaac Kekemeke; Olugbenga Edema; Gen Ohunyeye Olamide (retd); Morayo Lebi; Garvey Oladiran Iyantan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele. 

 

Political observers have attributed the large number of APC aspirants to the preponderance of the opinion that it is the turn of the southern part of the state to produce the next governor of the state although there was no written agreement or rotational arrangement in the party, Daily Trust reports. 

 

They also hinged their strong belief on the widespread talk in the town that whoever emerges as the APC candidate in today’s primary will most likely be the candidate to beat in the November governorship election. 

 

Aiyedatiwa is the incumbent governor, who took over the reign of power after the demise of his principal, Rotimi Akeredolu, whom he deputised. With a gale of endorsements from different political and influential groups, both within and outside the party in the state, many see him as the candidate to beat.

 

Wale Akinterinwa is the immediate past commissioner for finance in the state, the same position he held for three terms under former Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the late Akeredolu. 

 

Akinterinwa, a native of Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area, is one of the prominent contestants for the APC governorship ticket. He is said to have secured the endorsement of the late Akeredolu before his demise and has since been enjoying the support of the foot soldiers and political family of the former governor.

 

Meanwhile, Olusola Oke is the oldest and foremost contender among the crop of aspirants for the APC governorship ticket, considering his political experience and long years of contesting for the seat. 

 

Oke, who has a solid support base in the party, was a governorship candidate in 2012 and 2016. He contested the same with the former governor, Mimiko, and also with the late Akeredolu. He was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later, Alliance for Democracy (AD) at different times.

 

Oke’s several failed attempts at leading the state, notwithstanding his credentials and contributions to politics, have also consolidated his soaring popularity. The lanky politician, who hails from the small fishing settlement of Ilowo on the coast of Ilaje Local Government Area, has for years been the face of political leadership in the southern district, which has been agitating for the governorship seat. 

 

Despite his rich political background, observers said he may need the endorsement of the Abuja power bloc to fulfill his political aspiration of becoming a governor. 

 

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