BREAKING – Tamfis

BREAKING: Court of Appeal President Moves to Resolve Rivers Crisis, Sets Up Special Panel

Politics tamfitronics

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has moved to address the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

She has appointed a special three-member panel to handle all appeals related to the disputes in the state, including a key case involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Sources report that this special panel will be led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi. The first hearing has been set for Thursday, with Justices Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga joining Justice Otisi on the panel.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal adjourned three related cases to the newly-formed panel. Justice Hamma Barka, who had initially presided over the appeals, noted that some of the defendants had not yet been served. Justice Barka asked the lawyer for the appellant, Paul Erokoro (SAN), about his preferred choice of service.

Erokoro, representing the Rivers State Government in its case against the Rivers State House of Assembly and other parties, assured the court that steps would be taken to serve those parties who had not received official notice. He mentioned that this particular appeal, referenced as CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1211m1/2024, is one of the main cases assigned to the special panel due to the complex nature of the political issues in Rivers State.

Erokoro also informed the court that some respondents had recently provided legal documents to him, which would require his response. He requested that the hearing be postponed until November 14 to allow sufficient time for all necessary preparations.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), representing the first and second respondents, and Dr. Joshua Musa (SAN), representing the third respondent through twelve, both agreed to the suggested date. Following this agreement, the court formally adjourned the hearing to November 14.

In addition to the main case involving the Rivers State Government, two other appeals will also be heard by the special panel on Thursday. One is a case filed by the Accountant General of Rivers State against the House of Assembly and ten other respondents, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1222m1/2024. The second is a case filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and twenty-eight other respondents, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1208/2024.

BREAKING: First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, Denies Organizing National Prayer Over Hardship

Politics tamfitronics

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has denied claims suggesting that she is organizing a national prayer event in response to Nigeria’s current economic challenges.

In a statement released by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs. Tinubu refuted the claims as both “misleading” and “unfounded.”

The statement said that the First Lady has no plans to organize any national prayer event and urged Nigerians to disregard any news suggesting otherwise.

The full announcement from Mrs. Tinubu’s office reads:

ANNOUNCEMENT

FIRST LADY OF NIGERIA, SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU, CON REFUTES ORGANISING NATIONAL PRAYER EVENT

This is to clarify and inform the general public that the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON is not organizing a National Prayer.

The news making rounds in some conventional and social media platforms is unfounded and misleading. Consequently, anyone who might have come across the purported news of the joint National Prayer for Nigeria should disregard it as false.

Whilst the First Lady, a Christian and strong advocate of prayer and praying for Nigeria believes that prayer is an act that must be done willingly, conscientiously and correctly, she also believes that praying for Nigeria is the responsibility of every Nigerian, irrespective of religious belief, political affiliation, tribe or tongue.

Members of the public are advised to verify the authenticity of any news or event involving the First Lady of Nigeria or her Office through Official channels.
Kindly be advised accordingly.

Thank you.

SIGNED
Blame Kukoi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
9th November, 2024

Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Saturday, November 9)

Teen fatally hit by a car days after turning 18

The family of a “one in a million” young man who died after being hit by a car have paid tribute to him as they use his legacy to help others. Ceirion Galliers, from Abercanaid in Merthyr Tydfil, died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in July 2023 – just 11 days after he turned 18. It followed injuries he sustained during a crash in which he was a pedestrian days earlier on the A4060 northbound in Merthyr.

Full family tribute here.

11:27Ffion Lewis

Nigel Owens joins Welsh squad

Former international referee Nigel Owens will swap his whistle for a place in the Wales coaching box this Sunday.

The refereeing legend will join the Wales coaching team in an advisory role on matchdays, starting with this Sunday’s Autumn Nations Series opener against Fiji at the Principality Stadium. This isn’t a new concept, with former Test officials Jaco Peyper and Jérôme Garcès holding similar roles with South Africa and France, respectively.

If Wales are to put an end to a run of nine consecutive Test defeats then they will have to be squeaky clean and avoid conceding soft penalties. It is hoped Owens’ presence in the coaching box will allow Wales to understand the officials far better and adapt to certain interpretations quicker.

10:38Ffion Lewis

Pakistan railway bomb kills at least 24

The death toll from a bombing at a railway station in troubled south western Pakistan has risen to at least 24, officials said.

The attack on Saturday also left more than 50 others wounded, some critically. Police said about a dozen soldiers and six railway employees were among the dead.

The bomb exploded when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, said senior police officer Mohammad Baloch.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, said it was behind the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.

Government spokesman Shahid Rind said the bombing seemed to have been a suicide attack, but an investigation was still ongoing to confirm the BLA’s claim

10:04Ffion Lewis

Thousands of sweets seized in drugs raid

A drugs operation to sell “cannabis edibles” over social media was cracked after a suspicious package was intercepted in the post. Thousands of sweets and cannabis in liquid form were discovered in a raid.

Kyle Gadsby, 19, Chay Miles, 28, and John Miles, 51, were arrested at a house in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, on June 5 following the interception of a package in May. The package was found to contain brown liquid which smelt heavily of cannabis.

A sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court heard the liquid was found to be 363g of cannabis distillate. Full court story here.

09:32Ffion Lewis

Slow traffic in Cardiff

Slow traffic on A48 Western Avenue, Cardiff, Westbound between A470 North Road (Gabalfa Interchange) and Cardiff Road / Palace Road (Llandaff Lights). Travel time is ten minutes through the area.

08:32Ffion Lewis

Arrest after imitation firearm incident

A man has been arrested in Brecon after police received reports of someone with a firearm in the town.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said police received a report of a male with a firearm in Brecon at around 2pm on November 8.

One man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear, and remains in police custody.

Officers say they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident.

08:18Ffion Lewis

Today’s Met Office forecast

Today: “Another predominantly dry and cloudy day but brighter breaks may develop in places. The chance of spots of drizzle at times, this mostly over higher ground. Feeling colder than of late with temperatures a little below average for many. Maximum temperature 10 °C.

Tonight: “Cloud breaking in places to give some clear spells this evening but otherwise another cloudy night with an increasing chance of showery rain arriving later. Chilly. Minimum temperature 4 °C.”

BREAKING: Court of Appeal President Moves to Resolve Rivers Crisis, Sets Up Special Panel

BREAKING: First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, Denies Organizing National Prayer Over Hardship

Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Saturday, November 9)