In a minor cabinet reshuffle, the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has redeployed Information Commissioner to Ministry of Special Duties.

As part of the changes, Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, the Commissioner for Information, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Special Duties.

In the interim, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, the Commissioner for Works, Rural and Riverine Roads, will oversee the Ministry of Information.

Also, a reliable source within the inner circle of the government has also verified the same development.

There are mixed reactions among journalists regarding Governor Oborevwori’s directive for the Ministry of Information to be overseen by Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu.

This sentiment stems from lingering grievances over the fallout between journalists and the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Journalists have expressed dissatisfaction with Okowa’s refusal to acknowledge their efforts during his eight-year tenure with a ‘parting gift.’

It is worth recalling that Okowa was accused of denying journalists of same gesture of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, fully implemented by Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, extended to media professionals, both government house press crew and those outside the Government House.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has warned that fire would engulf any one trying to cause chaos in Kano State.

This was as Sanusi said the battle over Kano Emirate belonged to God, hence residents should remain calm and resist any temptation that could cause unrest.

He made the remark in a viral video while reacting to the Appeal Court judgement.

The Abuja Division of the Appeal Court had nullified the order of the Federal High Court in Kano.

The Kano Federal High Court had nullified Sanusi’s appointment following an emirate tussle in Kano State.

The order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment was issued by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Kano Division of the Federal High Court on June 20, 2024.

But, the Appeal Court faulted the ruling of the Federal High Court.

Sanusi said: “As you all know, the Appeal Court has confirmed today that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over emirate issues. This judgment was expected, and those who initiated the case in court knew this all along.

“Even the judge who issued the initial order was aware of the limits of his jurisdiction. Those who influenced him to make that decision also knew the truth.

“However, for the past eight months, their aim has been to promote selfish interests and instigate unrest in this part of the country.

“Despite their efforts, our greatest achievement is that the state has remained peaceful. There has been no violence or disorder. We call on everyone to continue maintaining peace and unity.

“This battle is not ours but God’s. And God does not need anyone’s help. Let us keep praying for His guidance and intervention. May God protect us, and whoever seeks to ignite chaos in Kano, may that fire consume them instead.

To those who wish harm upon Kano or its peace, may they face the consequences of their own wishes.”

… Intercepts Australia-bound cocaine in face cream bottles in Lagos; N1.1b worth of codeine shipment in Rivers; nabs traditional priest for drug trafficking

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms has been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja for onward distribution to some Northern states.
The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday 11th January 2025 led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond. The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local council area of Edo State.

In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.

No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA. The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.

A total of Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred (338,200) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than One Billion One Hundred and Ninety Million One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira (N1,190,168,200.00) in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.

The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.

In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on 25th October 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him. Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.

A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road, Kano on Thursday 9th January where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg; and 40,800 pills of opioids including tramadol from him.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ijaye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Lagos state; surrendered Boko Haram members at Hajj camp, Maiduguri, Borno state; Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer at Kamba Central Mosque, Kebbi state, while Kano state Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the District Head of Danbatta, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, FCT, PHPC, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.