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Akintelure’s death devastating – Ondo Gov, Aiyedatiwa

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has described as shocking and devastating the sudden death of one of the frontline governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Paul Akintelure, in the forthcoming election in the state.

Aiyedatiwa, who condoled with the people of Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state where the deceased hailed from, stated he was a core progressive who will be missed.

Akintelure gave up the ghost in the early hours of Tuesday in Lagos State after complaining of chest pain.

The deceased, a medical doctor, was the running mate to the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu during the 2012 election under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

According to the governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the late Akintelure was a friend and associate who exhumed decorum and humility to the admiration of many.

“Dr. Akintelure was a wonderful human being and was a core progressive. He was very consistent and loyal to the tenets of progressive politics in Ondo State and Nigeria.

“He was a friend and associate. He conducted his private business and public affairs with so much decorum and humility to the admiration of many,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa who added that the death of Akintelure at this critical time in the life of the State is saddening, stated that “we have lost a complete gentleman. He will be greatly missed.”

News

Bauchi SSG resigns, Gov Mohammed announces replacement

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Bauchi State, Mr Ibrahim Kashim has resigned with immediate effect.

The State Governor, Bala Mohammed has accepted the resignation and announced Mr Aminu Gamawa as his replacement.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity in Bauchi on Friday.

Until replacing Kashim as SSG, it was gathered that Gamawa was the Chief of Staff, Government House. He was directed by the Governor to take over as SSG with immediate effect in an acting capacity.

“Governor Bala Mohammed has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ibrahim Kashim with immediate effect .

“The Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Mr Aminu Gamawa, has been directed to take over from him in an acting capacity.

“Governor Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, thanked him for the services he rendered to the State and wished him well in his future endeavors,” the statement reads

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U.S. returnee arrested at Lagos airport for duping 139 Australians

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a suspected online fraudster known as Osang Otukpa for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of eight million Australian dollars.

Otukpa was arrested by EFCC operatives in a stakeout at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, after arriving from the United States of America on December 6.

“Otukpa goes by five aliases, namely: Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto and Kristin Davidson.

“He scammed his victims by luring them on social media to invest in his rogue cryptocurrency investment platform, Liquid Asset Group (LAG).

“The proceeds of the alleged crimes were routed to his bank accounts through a global cryptocurrency exchange platform,” a statement by EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Friday in Abuja reads.

Oyewale said that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

News

Ex-kogi Deputy Speaker is dead

The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Enema Paul, is dead.

He died of an undisclosed illness in Abuja at a private hospital in the early hours of Saturday.

Before his death, Hon Paul was the member representing Okura State Constituency in the current 8th Assembly in Kogi State.

Hon Paul stepped down as Kogi State Deputy Speaker on health grounds, and he was later replaced by the member representing Ibaji State Constituency, Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf, has commiserated with the family of the former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Enema Paul, whose demise was announced early Saturday.

This is contained in a press statement signed and made available to journalists in Lokoja by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed.

He described the deceased Assembly member as a friend, temperate, humble, team-playing, committed lawmaker, and public servant.

According to Rt Hon Umar, the former Deputy Speaker was a man who exemplified commitment to the unity of the state, having demonstrated a genuine desire to enhance pro-people legislation for overall development.

He noted that the late Enema Paul was also a devoted Christian who saw beyond religion and whose godliness and commitment to family values were unquestionable.

The Speaker prayed to God to grant the immediate family and members of the current and immediate past Assembly the fortitude to bear the huge loss.