By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has adjourned its plenary session to Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in honour of Honourable Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, who passed away on January 15, 2025.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the House had earlier adjourned its plenary in January to allow for the 2024 budget defence and discussions on the 2025 proposals for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Upon resumption, in line with parliamentary tradition, the House paid tribute to Hon. Onanuga, who represented the Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun State until her demise.

Hon. Onanuga served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th House and was previously the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development in the 9th Assembly (2019–2023).

As a mark of respect, her seat was draped in white, symbolizing her absence. The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, led a moment of silence in her honour. Additionally, Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Madaki, offered Islamic prayers, while Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, led Christian prayers for the repose of her soul.

Kalu encouraged members to sign the condolence register, emphasizing that the late Deputy Whip’s family would cherish messages from colleagues.

Following the tributes, House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonbvere, moved for the plenary to be adjourned until Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

By Francesca Hangeior

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has convicted and sentenced a woman, identified as Benedicta Usen, also known as Mrs Carol Omomoh, to a five-year imprisonment without option of fine for trafficking a lady for prostitution.

Justice Ekwo, in a judgment, said he found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt with respect to each and every allegation in the eight-count charge.

Justice Ekwo consequently sentenced Omomoh to two years and six months imprisonment each in counts one, three, five and seven without an option of fine.

The judge also sentenced her in counts two, four, six and eight to five years imprisonment each without an option of fine.

He ordered that all the jail terms must run concurrently with effect from Feb  3.

Justice Ekwo observed that Omomoh’s denials in the face of her evidence-in-chief as 1st defence witness (DW1) only exposed her “as a barefaced liar, a crooked and dishonest human being.”

According to the judge, to even have the audacity to stand in court and deny the statement she made voluntarily to the police shows how depraved she is.

“The evidence also exposes her as being in the business of procuring young vulnerable women like Miss Cynthia  Omoieke for prostitution abroad.

“People like the defendant must be taken out of the society for good.

“I therefore make an order convicting the defendant of the charge In counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 as charged.

“This is the order of this court,” the judge ruled.

The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2019, named Omomoh as sole defendant.

In the eight-count amended charge dated Oct  24, 2022, the I-G alleged that the defendant Omomoh and Mrs Oyomiya  Lamidi ‘f’ (now at large), sometime in year 2011 in Lagos, conspired between themselves to commit the offence by recruiting and transporting Miss Cynthia Loveth Ese Omoieke to Italy through the United Kingdom (UK) by means of deception and abuse of position of vulnerability.

The offence is punishable under Section 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration (TPPEA) Act, 2015.

In count five, she and Mrs Oyomiya Mama Lamidi ‘f’ (now at large), sometime in 2011 in Lagos, did conspired to commit an offence by organising and facilitating the foreign travel of Omoieke to Italy through the UK which travel promoted prostitution and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 of the TPPEA Act, 2015.

Omomoh, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts and the prosecution called two witnesses to establish its case against her.

Elon Musk is joining the US government after all as special employee but at no cost to America as he would not be needing any wage for his services.

President Donald Trump previously tapped Musk to lead his Department of Government Efficiency, but the tech billionaire, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, was not technically a federal employee. But now, he is, according to a source familiar with his relationship with Trump administration.

Hours after Musk announced a plan to shutter the U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID) on X, the social media platform he owns, a White House official told USA TODAY he was officially joining the federal government.

Trump made Musk a “special government employee,” the official said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed to reporters that Musk had officially joined the administration. The designation allows Musk to work for the federal government with or without compensation for a limited amount of time. He also received a government email and an office. The administration official said Musk would not receive a paycheck.

Leavitt said she didn’t know the status of Musk’s security clearance or whether he had completed a background check.

“He has abided by all applicable federal laws,” she said.

The status change affirms that Musk is working in lockstep with Trump, whom he said he ran his plans to dismantle USAID by and had the president’s full backing to pursue.

The White House said on Monday that USAID would temporarily be put under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s control.

It is not clear when Musk received the special government employee designation, which allows him to work for the federal government for 130 days over a year without having to publicly disclose his finances. Former President Joe Biden utilized the same authority to hire a top aide during his administration.

-usatoday