1. The Presidency on Monday criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in the state, describing the demand as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Makinde, while formally assuming responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the 45 teachers and pupils rescued after spending 56 days in captivity on Monday, called for a UN-backed investigation into the abduction, saying Nigerians deserved a full account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
2. Director-General of the phantom federal agency under probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew billed for arraignment on criminal charges today in Abuja may not show up in court. This is going by the indication he gave last night on a television programme when he alleged from his hideout that his life is at risk.
3. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the April 29 judgment by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, barring the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing or participating in any state congresses conducted by the congress committees appointed by the David Mark-led Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
4. Recalling the last days of former President Muhammadu Buhari at a London hospital last year, Vice President Kashim Shettima said he wept seeing that life was ebbing out of the late leader. Speaking at the one year remembrance event on Monday Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called him and said, “‘Kashim, I’ve just learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari is ill in London, proceed to London and ensure he lacks nothing”.
5. A torrential downpour on Monday brought commercial activities to a halt in several parts of Lagos as widespread flooding submerged vehicles, left motorists and commuters stranded and triggered severe traffic across major roads. The worst-hit areas included Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island and Oworonshoki, where floodwaters overwhelmed roads and left many vehicles partially submerged.
6. The African Democratic Congress has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate what it described as the alleged forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly issued by the electoral body, following claims by a faction that it had uploaded the names of the party’s presidential candidate and other nominees to the commission’s nomination portal.
The Nafiu Bala Gombe faction of the party had reported on Sunday night that it had successfully uploaded the names of its candidates on the INEC portal.
7. Imo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a man accused of murdering his wife inside a church in Owaelu, Owerri North Local Government Area, before fleeing with two of their three children and abandoning a suckling baby beside her lifeless body. The woman’s body was reportedly discovered on Monday morning after neighbours, alarmed by the persistent cries of the infant, traced the sound to the church premises.
8. Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for economic sanctions and visa bans against opposition leaders in the state, accusing them of aiding and abetting political violence in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Adeleke made the call on Monday while receiving a delegation of the British Government on a pre-election peace-building mission to Osun State.
9. Dangote Petroleum Refinery has switched payment for the sale of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, and Aviation Turbine Kerosene, ATK to U.S. dollar. The new policy, which took effect immediately, applies to both gantry and coastal product sales.
10. Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for independent scrutiny of the May 14 abduction of children and teachers from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of the state. Makinde made the call in his statewide broadcast on Monday in Ibadan, shortly after he received 44 children and teachers recently rescued from bandits.
