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The police on Monday arraigned five men before the Lagos State High Court in Tafa Balewa Square for allegedly making a false statement of criminal allegation to the police against the Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi.

The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Ibironke Harrison are Adeigbagbo Harrison, Prince Toluwoleke Megba, Harrison Soji, Megbalewon Adeniji James and Segun Ekomale (Ikuomola).

The defendants whose residential addresses were not given are facing eight counts bordering on conspiracy, making false statements, and impersonation preferred against them by the police.

The police prosecution counsel, M. Animashaun, told the court that the defendants and others still at large conspired amongst themselves and made false statements to the public officer at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Alagbon, Ikoyi Lagos.

He told the court that on the same day, the defendants made a false statement of criminal allegation to the police against the Al-Mansour family, the information they knew or ought to have known was false.

The prosecutor further told the court that the defendants also made false statements to the police against Mr Chinedu Nweke, Chief Ogunyemi John, and Monsunmola Ogunyemi.

Animashaun said the alleged offence was committed on November 30, 2022.

The prosecutor also told the court that the first defendant, Adeigbagbo

Harrison, between January and February 1, 2023, at the Itedo community in Ibeju Lekki, with intent to defraud, falsely presented himself as Oni Itedo, the paramount ruler of the Itedo community.

Animashaun alleged that after Adeigbagbo Harrison falsely assumed the position of the paramount ruler of Itedo community, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by inciting the youths and members of the Itedo community against Oba Elegushi, conduct which is likely to cause a breach of public peace.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 96, (a), 95, 380 (1) and 56 (1) (a), of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Following their not guilty pleas the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and also urged the court to remand them at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

But the defendants counsel Ebun Olu- Adegboruwa (SAN), told the court that the defence had filed bail application for the defendants and then asked the court to allow the defendants continue with the administrative bail earlier granted them by the police.

He said,”They have been attending court faithfully and in furtherance of the pending application for bail we humbly urge my lord to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted to them by the police pending the hearing and determination of the application for bail”.

In her ruling Justice Harrison granted the request of the defence counsel.

She held that the court had observed that all the defendants have been attending court faithfully.

“ The defendants are to continue with the administrative bail granted to them by the police pending the hearing of the bail application,” she said.

The case was adjourned till April 8, 2025.

Punch

Popular Nigeria musician, Dr Alban Unoma Nwapa, has faulted the decision of President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Nwapa said Tinubu should have called the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike to order, rather than declaring a state of emergency.

The political crisis in Rivers State had led to Tinubu declaring a state of emergency and suspending Governor Sim Fubara for six months.

Tinubu also suspended the Rivers State deputy governor and all members of the state House of Assembly.

His action was an offshoot of the crisis between Wike and Fubara.

The crisis led to the emergence of parallel Assembly with 27 members under the leadership of Martins Amaewhule initially claiming to have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

But, the Supreme Court ordered their reinstatement and Fubara to represent the 2025 budget.

Following the ruling, Fubara attempted to represent the budget but was prevented from accessing the complex by Amaewhule’s Assembly.

Reacting to the situation, the superstar, who dominated the airwaves with his unique brand of music in the late 90s through to the 2000s, lamented that Tinubu lacked the constitutional powers to suspend Fubara and his deputy.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Alban said: “And to think that this man, Fubara, was democratically elected by the people while the other person is just a minister, no electoral value in his own state of around 2 million eligible voters or more!

“And the annoying part is that he has not been made to also share part of the punishment being meted out to Fubara.

“In fact, nobody has mentioned his name. Supreme Court didn’t mention his name, the Senate didn’t mention his name, the President didn’t mention his name, nobody mentioned his name! It is really sad.

“Oh, my answer to that is simple, the President should’ve called Wike to order rather than declare a State of Emergency on Rivers.

“Calling Wike to order would’ve been the sensible thing to do because he is the reason we got into this whole mess in the first place! Slamming state of Emergency on Rivers has totally decimated the democratic structure of the state. It has ridiculed the entire democratic setting.

“You suspended both the governor and his deputy, even when you do not have the constitutional power to do so.

“The State House of Assembly will cease to function for the next six months as well? Come on, this is absurd. Let’s not even begin to talk about how wasteful it is to impose state of Emergency on the state.

“Or, are they not going to pay the new Administrator? Will he not have his own retinue of staff and security detail?

“The almost 10,000 soldiers that have been deployed to Rivers on Special Duties will be paid heavily as well. There is a whole lot of financial implications involved, and all at whose expense?

“Tax payers’ money of course! So, it’s much cheaper to call Wike to order than taking this illogical decision of State of Emergency. But let’s even put the cost implication aside, the heavy damage it has done to the democratic set up of Rivers state is what is painful. It is annoying. It will take them quite some time to recover from this set back.”

On what Tinubu’s action portend for Nigeria’s democracy, Alban said: “Its like setting a bad precedent because what it means now is that all the other governors too should expect that anything can happen to them anytime.

“One morning, the President can just wake up and decide he no longer likes the face of a particular governor and then suspend him from office! Is that the kind of country we’re in now?

“And this National Assembly na wa! This voice voting, it’s crazy! Yes, I know they do a lot of crazy things but this one shook me. It shook me.

“We know they do a lot of unthinkable things, we know, but this voice vote to determine 2/3rd is daylight robbery.

“It shocked me and surprised me that they have the audacity to do this. A state that boasts of millions of eligible voters yet they did this type of thing?

“And then they didn’t even care if there were any consequences to what they were doing. The voice voting is the part I don’t understand, how do you determine 2/3rd by voice voting? This is madness.”

Daily Post

A fire ignited by a thunderstorm on Sunday razed the building of Saint Peter’s Primary School in Igbemo, Ekiti State.

The building, comprising five blocks of classrooms, was burnt when a thunder strike reportedly ignited a fire during a stormy downpour that lasted for over an hour.

Consequent upon the incident, the teachers at the school on Monday morning relocated the pupils to a contiguous school, AUD Pilot Nursery Primary School, to continue with their learning.

The governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who paid an inspection visit to the affected school on Monday, promised to rebuild the destroyed structure for the pupils to return to their base without delay.

The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, during the visit, lamented the incident and consequent dislodgement of pupils of the affected school from their original base.

Oyebanji said, “The structure razed down will be rebuilt in due course so that the pupils and teachers can heave a sigh of relief after the fire incident.

“I am saddened by this fire caused by a mysterious thunder strike. Though the structure had been burnt, we are happy that no life was lost, because it happened when the pupils and teachers were at home.

“Most interesting to me was the way you immediately relocated the pupils to a nearby school. This shows the commitment of the State Universal Basic Education Board to the academic growth of these pupils and the need for them to be at par with their colleagues in other schools.

“We are assuring you that the structure shall be rebuilt back to normal shape so that the pupils and teachers can return to their original school in no distant time,” he said.

The governor, while also reacting to complaints by the teachers of AUD Pilot, Nursery And Primary School over how some residents of the area were piling refuse and defecating within the school premises, ordered that the unhealthy practices be halted with immediate effect.

He expressed worries that allowing such to continue could expose the pupils to infectious diseases that could be injurious to their lives and those of the teachers.

The Education Secretary, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Mrs Adesola George-Ojo, said completion of the perimeter fencing around the school would help in stemming the tide of open defecation within the school.

George-Ojo said the school had been battling with such unwholesome acts for ages, adding that it was time to stop such unhygienic practices to avert the breakdown of diseases within the school and the community at large.

The punch

The management of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, has announced that five of its students lost their lives in a fatal road accident on Sunday, 23rd March 2025.

According to a statement obtained by DAILY POST on Monday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, disclosed that the accident occurred around the Balogun area, before Unity School, Ikire, Osun State.

Adesoji explained that the accident involved a luxury bus travelling from Ibadan and an 18-passenger bus from Osogbo, resulting in multiple fatalities, including five UNIOSUN students.

He also revealed that reports from the Nigerian Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, indicated that the accident was caused by a head-on collision between the two buses, leading to a severe impact that claimed several lives.

He said: “Upon receiving this distressing news, our university management swiftly dispatched a team to the scene to identify and support any of our students involved in the accident.

“Regrettably, we confirm the loss of the following students: Olagbemide Dotun, a 200-level student of Software Engineering; Suleiman Farouq Adedayo, a 400-level student of Law; Ogundare Pelumi, a 300-level student of Public Health; Ogundare Elijah, a 100-level student of Mechanical Engineering; and Olawuyi Mary, a 200-level student of Nursing.

“However, one of our students, Olagbemide Damilola, a 200-level student of Medicine and Surgery, survived the accident and is currently receiving medical attention.”

Adesoji added: “The Nigerian Police have confirmed a total of ten fatalities from this unfortunate incident. Osun State University is working closely with the relevant authorities to gather more details on the circumstances surrounding the accident. We are also providing necessary moral and logistical support to the bereaved families, including funeral arrangements for the deceased students.

“This tragic loss has deeply shaken our university community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the deceased.

“We urge our students, staff, and the entire university community to remain calm and supportive during this difficult time. Osun State University will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and pray that they find strength and solace in this moment of grief.”

Daily Post

The Federal Government said it is taking necessary steps to offset the N4.7tn debt owed to power generation companies to avert a possible nationwide blackout.

This came as stakeholders expressed fears that some power generation companies might be forced to shut down due to a lack of liquidity in the sector unless there is an urgent intervention by the Federal Government to clear the debts to Gencos.

However, the Federal Government said it would do everything possible to prevent Gencos from shutting down their plants as the issue is getting attention.

In an interview with our correspondent, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, assured Nigerians that the government would take action to prevent power plants from shutting down as a result of financial crises.

Speaking through his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, the minister disclosed that efforts are ongoing to pay the power generation companies and the gas suppliers.

Faced with N4.7tn debt, our correspondent gathered that generation companies are facing challenges in running their power plants.

Our correspondent gathered that gas-fired thermal plants are mostly affected as they are unable to pay gas companies supplying them with feedstock.

Recently, Transcorp Power lamented that it was being owed about N650bn for the power it generated, saying the lack of liquidity affected its ramp-up plans.

In December 2024, it was reported that gas companies formally notified all Gencos of their planned suspension of gas supply due to mounting debts. However, the intervention of the Federal Government appeared to have saved the country from another darkness like the one witnessed in the first quarter of 2024.

Sources in the power sector told our correspondent that generation companies are struggling to make ends meet, following the Federal Government’s failure to clear the N4.7tn debt.

The sources, who preferred not to be mentioned due to the matter’s sensitivity, disclosed that some Gencos declare profits in anticipation that the Federal Government would pay the money but the debt had continued to increase by the day.

Our correspondent gathered that at the end of every month, over N200bn is added to the debt burden owed to the Gencos.

According to a document sighted by our correspondent, the total invoice from January to December 2024 was N2.7tn, out of which N762.1bn was paid, leaving an outstanding of N1.94tn.

This indicates that the Gencos were only able to recover 28.18 per cent of their total debt for the first 11 months of 2024.

For instance, in January 2024, Gencos’ invoice was N281.33 but only 33.80 per cent was paid. In February when the invoice read N208bn, the Gencos received 9.3 per cent. From January to December 2024, the trend continued and the debts piled up daily.

Operators who pleaded anonymity stated that though some Gencos like Transcorp and Geregu declared profits at the end of the year, the money was being held on to by the Federal Government.

“People say we make money and they are always quick to mention two generation companies. But if you have sold your goods and the money is not coming to you, how will you break even? You make sales but the debtor refuses to pay. That’s the challenge Gencos face,” an operator said.

Another source added that generation companies are at the mercy of the Federal Government.

“We are making profits in the expectation that the government will pay us, even without any clear line of sight on payment options. As of December 2024, N4tn is owed to Gencos. The government has refused to pay electricity subsidies,” he stated.

The operators feared that if nothing is done urgently, many power plants might stop running or be denied access to gas supply to avoid incurring more debts.

Some wonder how the Federal Government plans to offset the debt with a budget of N900bn for the sector.

“Gencos are only struggling, we don’t know how the government will clear the N4.7tn debt with a budget of N900bn. I just pray Nigeria will get it right. But sustainability is not possible without money,” another source stated.

However, the minister of power, Adelabu, through his media aide, said the issue is currently getting the required attention, promising that all the players in the value chain will be paid.

“We are always intervening. I can assure you that no power plant will shut down; nothing like that will happen because of the effect of that on the economy.

“The minister has already made a case for them for the government to pay the outstanding and the legacy debt. The government will not allow things to get to where the Gencos will now say they can no longer generate electricity.

“Both Gencos and gas suppliers; all the value chain (will be paid). The government will not allow anything to happen that will cause a problem for the economy,” he said.

Speaking with our correspondent recently, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Dr Joy Ogaji, disclosed that the Gencos are suffering, and they need urgent and pragmatic solutions to ease their liquidity crisis, stressing that the liquidity crisis is N4.7tn.

“As for liquidity, Gencos are seriously suffering and urgently need pragmatic solutions to ease the liquidity crisis, totalling N4.7tn,” Ogaji stated.

The President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Plc, Owen Omogiafo, lamented that Transcorp Plc as a group has an installed capacity of 2,000 megawatts, but it is currently generating about half of that due to illiquidity.

“For Transcorp Plc as a group, our installed capacity is 2,000 megawatts but available capacity today is about a thousand of that. Why? Is it because we don’t want to put in more? Is it that we don’t have the wherewithal to increase that? No!

“But when you look at the liquidity challenges that we’re facing, it’s interesting to know that Transcorp Group alone is owed about N650bn by the government.

“We’re owed about N650bn from the power that we’ve generated. So, if you look at it as an investor, I want to be able to do more. I want to run a sustainable business. But at the same time, we need to be able to ensure that there’s liquidity, and the money is coming back so I can continue to reinvest,“ Omogiafo said during a TV interview recently.

The minister of power had earlier confirmed that the Federal Government owed electricity generation companies and electricity distribution companies over N4tn.

Giving a breakdown, the minister said N2tn was owed to Gencos as legacy debt and another N1.9tn was owed to them as part of electricity subsidy for 2024. He disclosed that the Discos were owed N450bn for the 2024 electricity subsidy.

Adelabu had said in February, “One of the major issues that concerns me is the huge debt in the sector. We are talking about legacy debt, which is across the board, over N2tn, and we still have an unpaid subsidy for 2024; we have another N1.9tn owed to them as part of electricity subsidy for 2024, while Discos are owed N450bn for 2024 electricity subsidy.

“How do you expect the Gencos to perform optimally? How do you expect them to pay for gas, services, and maintain their turbines and other infrastructure as well as pay their staff if a total of N4tn is being owed to them? I do not deceive myself. The government cannot afford to continue to fund the level of subsidy that our consumption pattern is throwing up because we have seen increasing consumption of electricity.”

Speaking, the Executive Director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, disclosed that the failure of customers like the military and other government agencies to pay their bills is affecting the electricity value chain.

According to him, military organisations like the Air Force which attacked Ikeja Electric despite a N4bn debt pose a serious threat to the sector.

“These military and the MDAs are among the major customers responsible for the epileptic power supply we face in Nigeria. Imagine an Air Force Base alone, owing over N4bn. How do we pay the market? Our own is only 20 per cent of all the tariffs we collect. How can a generation company generate more power when the Discos are not able to remit money because they are not being paid? These are the problems. It’s a vicious cycle,” he stated

Oduntan further noted that the “Discos owe the generation companies money due to a lack of payments.”

He stressed, “Every money that accrues to the market every month goes to the Central Bank of Nigeria; then the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, everything they do is from the market, even their salary is paid from this tariff; the Transmission Company of Nigeria; the generation companies; and the gas suppliers.

“Gas suppliers are paid by the generation companies. Generation companies cannot pay the gas suppliers unless we remit upstream in the market. The debt to the Gencos rises every day. Every time you see power on, it is naira and kobo. The generation companies run their machines daily by burning gas or any other feedstock.”

Our correspondent recalls that in the first quarter of 2024, the country was plunged into darkness as gas companies refused to supply gas to the thermal plants due to debts. This was resolved after the Federal Government showed some commitment to pay in on the debts.

The punch

Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-Hee died from cardiac arrest on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the South Korean tech giant. Han was 63.

Born in 1962, Han had overseen Samsung’s consumer electronics and mobile devices businesses since 2022, according to the company. He was named Samsung Electronics vice chairman and co-CEO in 2022. Han’s co-CEO, Jun Young-Hyun, heads its semiconductor business.

In an internal message seen by CNN, Samsung paid tribute to Han, saying he had dedicated more than 37 years of his life to leading Samsung’s TV business to become a global leader. As the head of its electronics and appliances businesses, he also contributed to the company’s growth amid a “challenging business environment.”

“Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the message said.

No announcement has been made about Han’s successor, the spokesperson told CNN.

During an annual meeting with investors last week, which he chaired, Han apologized for the performance of Samsung stock and warned of a difficult 2025 because of uncertainties around the economic policies of major economies, according to Reuters. He added that Samsung would seek “meaningful” mergers and acquisitions deals this year to support the company’s growth.

“There are some difficulties in doing semiconductor M&As due to regulatory issues and various national interests, but we’re determined to produce some tangible results this year,” he was quoted as saying.

Han joined the company in 1988 after earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Inha University. Prior to running Samsung’s electronics and devices division, he was in charge of the display operation.

CNN

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a man, Mubarak, suspected to be mentally unstable for stabbing a 25-year-old man, Shamseen Danshehu, to death.

The incident took place on Sunday evening in the Kwangila area of Minna, the state capital when Mubarak was said to have engaged Danshehu in a fisticuffs during which he allegedly stabbed him in the chest.

He was rushed to the nearby Minna General hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The residents who said they did not know what caused the fight however said they always saw Mubarak in the street moving from place to place scavenging in residents’ refuse containers.

PUNCH Online contacted the spokesman for the state police command, Wasiu Abiodun, on Monday and he confirmed the death of Danshehu

He also disclosed that the suspect was arrested .

“It was reported that one Mubarak, who is suspected of insanity and also scavenging around Kwangila, had a fight with a passerby, Shamsu Danshehu 25 years of the same area.

“During the fight, the said scavenger stabbed Shamsu on the chest with scissors.

“The victim was rushed to the general hospital but gave up the ghost in the hospital and confirmed dead. The suspect was arrested for further investigation,” Abiodun said.

The punch