Headlines
Okorocha is Under Investigation, Says EFCC
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has confirmed the commission is investigating the outgoing Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
Mr Magu disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday.
Asked if an investigation is being carried out regarding the outgoing state governor, he responded, “definitely”.
The official then said ”an investigation has to get to a particular level before it is let (out) to the media to avoid it being jeopardised”.
He said the EFCC is carrying out numerous investigations currently.
”Of course, we are doing a couple of checks, we are investigating almost ‘everybody’. But it has to get to some level for us to come out to the media. If not, it will jeopardise the process of investigation,” Mr Magu added.
Mr Okorocha has had a tumultuous relationship with the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, since the conduct of the party’s state primary elections held in October 2018.
The governor wanted his former chief of staff and son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him as the next governor of the state.
His son-in-law, however, lost the APC ticket to contest as the governorship candidate of the party. He lost to Hope Uzodinma, a senator representing Orlu constituency of the state.
This development saw him defect to the Action Alliance (AA) where he lost to Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Mr Okorocha, who was later suspended by his party for anti-party activities, contest election to go to the Senate. INEC later withdrew its earlier declaration of Mr Okorocha as winner, saying it was done under duress.
On May 15, Mr Okorocha filed two separate fundamental rights enforcement suits and accused Mr Oshiomhole and other leaders of the party of a conspiracy to prompt the EFCC to arrest and detain him.
Premium Times
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
