Ambode reunites with Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Fashola
Smiles lit his face as he took his seat among President Bola Tinubu’s disciples, associates and other statesmen.
It was a day of reunion. For the first time in four years, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was reunited with his leader. That was after the seeming parting of ways, following the 2014 governorship primary, which he lost to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Although the reception was organised for the President by his successor, Ambode also received special attention.
It was at the Lagos State House, Marina, which hosted him as chief executive between 2015 and 2019.
Ambode made an unexpected public appearance. The former governor shook hands warmly with many dignitaries. They included his colleagues in the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), members of the National Assembly and other presidential aides.
Ambode appeared to be in high spirits. He hugged and patted other dignitaries on the back. Many were happy that the curtains have been drawn on four years of self-alienation and political seclusion.
Mr. Consolidator Ambode joined his successor, Mr. Sellable Sanwo-Olu, and his predecessor, Mr. Actualiser Babatunde Fashola, to present a special gift to Asiwaju Tinubu, their godfather, leader and benefactor.
Gunmen kidnap popular businessman in Imo
Tension as gunmen kidnap popular businessman in ImoPublished on July 2, 2023By Tunji Adedeji
There was tension on Friday evening when gunmen reportedly kidnapped John Ugorji, the owner of Johnny Supermarket and Pharmacy at the popular Ikenegbu Layout in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
According to a source, the abduction happened between 10 pm and 11 pm while Ugorji was driving home in his SUV.
Ugorji, a native of Umueshi, a community in Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State, reportedly resisted being kidnapped, which prompted the bandits to shoot erratically into the air, causing bystanders to flee for cover.
Narrating how he was kidnapped by the gunmen who arrived in two cars, the source said: “He was approached at his drugstore, but when one of his car’s tyres got stuck in a gutter, he attempted to run from the gunmen. They dragged him out of his car, shoved him into theirs, and sped off to an unidentified location.
“The kidnappers have not yet contacted the family members. We hope they will spare his life and let him return home unharmed.”
The Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed the report to DAILY POST.
According to him, the command received a distress call from an eyewitness that armed men had dragged a man out of his vehicle and taken him hostage at Ikenegbu, Owerri Urban.
Pilot killed as Fighter Jet Crashes During Venezuela Exercise
The armed forces said in a statement that the plane “crashed to the ground” at around 09:45 am (1345 GMT) on July 2 in the municipality of Guaicaipuro.
A pilot was killed Sunday when a Russian-made fighter jet crashed in a mountainous area in northern Venezuela during practice exercises ahead of a parade to mark the country’s independence, President Nicolas Maduro said.
“I regret to inform that during the practice manoeuvres … an aircraft of our Bolivarian Military Ation fell to the ground, causing the physical loss of the distinguished pilot Col. Paulino Jose Millan Sabino,” the president wrote on Twitter.
The armed forces said in a statement that the plane “crashed to the ground” at around 09:45 am (1345 GMT) on July 2 in the municipality of Guaicaipuro, in Miranda state, some 31 kilometers (19 miles) from Caracas.
The plane, a Sukhoi-30, had two crew members. Both managed to eject, but Sabino “died when he fell to the ground,” the armed forces added.
In the past week, military aircraft have flown over Caracas and other cities in practice maneuvers to commemorate July 5, 1811, the date of the signing of the act declaring independence from Spain.
Venezuela and Russia, one of its main allies along with Iran, China and Turkey, have signed military cooperation agreements since the government of the late Hugo Chavez (1999-2013).
Among military equipment purchases, Venezuela acquired 24 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 aircraft in 2006 to replace the French Dassault Mirage.
In September 2015, the two crew members of a Sukhoi-30 were killed when they crashed to the ground while trying to intercept an “illegal aircraft” in the southeastern state of Apure, on the border with Colombia.
Two other military pilots were killed in October 2019 when another Sukhoi-30 crashed.
One of the deadliest accidents in Venezuelan military ation occurred on May 3 2009, when a Russian-made MI-35 helicopter crashed to the ground, leaving 18 dead, 17 of them military personnel.
UTME ‘best’ candidate secured N3m scholarship with manipulated figure- JAMB
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) said it would withdraw the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME) result of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma for inflating her original score.
The board said she scored 249 in the examination as against the 362 she is parading.
The board said this in a statement by its Head, Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin on Sunday in Abuja.
The organisation said it would prosecute Miss Ejikeme for tampering with its result.
According to the statement, Miss Ejikeme was offered a N3 million scholarship by founder of Innoson motors, Innocent Chukwuma for scoring 362 in the 2023 UTME.
The board warned Nigerians to be careful of applicants parading high scores in the UTME.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has been drawn to several publications in both print and online media celebrating certain candidates for being high scorers in the 2023 UTME.
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