By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Reno Omokri, a former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

His offence: he allegedly defamed Pastor Paul Enenche.

The NPF secured an order from the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wuse Zone 6, Abuja to remand him in prison custody along with a former Dunamis Church Pastor, Abraham Daniel, and two others, Enenche Peter and Alexander Enenche.

The court, presided over by Chief Emmanuel A. Iyanna, issued the remand warrant through an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on January 13, 2025.

Granting the ex-parte application filed by Francis Gabriel, Esq on behalf of the Police Chief, in Motion No: ME/07/2025 between the Inspector General of Police as Applicant and Daniel Abraham, Enenche Idoga Alexander, Oboyinlo Enenche Peter and Reno Omokri as 1st to 4th Respondents, the Chief Magistrate directed the Police to produce the respondents on return Court date on January 30.

Iyanna held: “Upon hearing the application and submissions of learned Francis Gabriel and upon careful consideration of the averments, the annextures and issues as raised in the submissions of the applicant, the application is hereby granted as prayed.

“It is hereby ordered as follows: An Order of this Honourable Court for remand warrant of the Respondents (i) MR. DANIEL ABRAHAM (ii) MR. ENENCHE IDOGA ALEXANDER (iii) OBOYINLO ENENCHE PETER and (iv) MR. RENO OMOKRI in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, pending investigation, arraignment/prosecution.

“It is, hereby, ordered that the Respondents be arraigned before a Court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of the said investigation.

“On the return date, the Respondents should be produced.

“The matter is adjourned to 30th Day of January, 2025.”

The remand warrant was predicated on a petition to the IGP by Patrick O. Okolo, SAN against Mr Reno Omokri, Gistlover Blog, Aunty Adul, Peter Obonyiro, Kelechi TV and their agents and co-conspirators for alleged defamation of Pastor Paul Enenche.

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has called on the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to ensure the clear labeling of all Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) products in accordance with global standards.

This House Committee on Science and Technology gave the resolution during a budget defense session, with the Director General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha on Thursday in Abuja.

The committee cited the widespread of GMO use in the United States, particularly in maize.

However, committee member Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante emphasised the need for transparent labeling, highlighting that Nigerians should have the choice to make informed decisions about the food they consume. He questioned the adequacy of research on GMO products, particularly Tela Maize, before their adaptation in the country.

In addition, Prof. Mustapha presented NABDA’s proposed budget of N5.3 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, which includes N834.4 million for overhead costs and N14.5 million for personnel costs.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the agency employs around 4,000 staff across its 39 centers nationwide. Other agencies, including the Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, PRODA, NBTI, and NOTAP, also submitted their budgets to the committee.

By Gloria Ikibah

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Livestock has committed to revise the proposed 2025 budget to provide more support to the Veterinary Institute of Nigeria, recognizing its crucial role in producing vaccines to prevent disease outbreaks nationwide.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Livestock, Senator Musa Mustapha, gave the assurance during the institute’s 2025 budget defense session held in Abuja.

Senator Mustapha expressed the committee’s willingness to assist the institute in securing additional resources for vaccine production. Also the Chairman House Committee on Livestock, Rep. Wale Raji, who emphasised the importance of the institute to the Livestock Ministry, urged it to detail the requirements for scaling up vaccine production.

During the session, it was noted that the institute’s 2024 budget allocation was largely spent on diesel for machinery, as its storage facilities require high voltage power.

The committee advised the institute to improve public awareness of its work.

Director General of the institute, Dr. Maryann Muhammad, raised concerns over the N900 million proposed budget, calling it insufficient given the scale of its operations, including the production of over 40 million vaccine doses in response to disease outbreaks.

Other institutions, including the Federal Colleges of Animal Health and Production Technology in Mubi, Ibadan, and Zaria, also presented their 2025 budget proposals. The Mubi College highlighted its financial difficulties, citing a budget of over N2.7 billion but less than N1 million in revenue for 2024. Despite this, the committee acknowledged that the college is not expected to generate revenue but rather remit a portion of its expenditures.

The committee expressed concerns over the practical training focus of these institutions, stressing the need for students to develop entrepreneurial skills to contribute to the country’s economic growth.