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Methodist Church Names First Female Bishop In Nigeria

The Methodist Church Nigeria, on Sunday, enthroned Rt Rev. Nkechi Nwosu as the first female bishop of the Church in the country.

Nwosu was enthroned by His Grace, Most Rev Dr Joseph Nnonah, Archbishop of Kaduna at the Christ Methodist Cathedral, Jos.

The new bishop in a brief interaction with newsmen, revealed that “God is using what has happened in the Methodist Church, Nigeria to tell the whole world that the time to release women to fulfill their destiny has come.

She said that women and men needed to join their hands to achieve the mandate of God.

“God knew that creating only Adam, He will not be able to bring his heart’s desire, so He had to make the woman to complement him.

“So, for the word of God to reach to the end of the world, “man must put their hands together to serve God”, irrespective of gender, because God is a spirit.

“He is not a flesh, the flesh we are seeing is just for our comfort, as He said that everybody who believes in Him and is led by the spirit of God is the son of God.

“And so every child of God who is born again and dwell in the Holy Spirit is a son of God.

“And when men or women of God in charge of denominations understand this, I believe we will conquer more for the Lord than what we have done,” she said.

On 2023 general elections, Nwosu called on Nigerians to listen to the voice of God who knows the best leader for the country at this moment.

She said that God gave Nigerians conscience and power, and that the power is in the Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

“We must all go out there and agree with God, listen to the spirit of God and do what God said we should do.

“Do that so that God will use us and anybody He wants to put on that seat to restore Nigeria to a place of pride in Africa, and the world,” she added.

His Eminence, Dr Samuel Uche, Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church Nigeria, during whose tenure Nwosu was elected bishop, said that God made all humans equal.

Uche said that Jesus Christ elevated the position of women by being born of a woman.

“So I believe there is no difference between a man and woman, after all, in Hebrew language, a man is a he man and a woman is she man, so we are all men.

“And moreover, in Methodist Church, we taught that people who have reached menopause, who are no longer childbearing can hold responsible office in the church, because they have the capacity.

“They have the ability, they are meticulous, resourceful and spiritual.

“So we decided that we should have in Methodist Bishop a woman and I know that some time ago, the President of the British Church was a woman from Ireland,” he said.

Nwosu will serve as Bishop of Jos Diocese.

News

In Serial Raids, DSS Arrests Retired Soldier, Five Other Criminals

A retired soldier and five other suspected criminals operating along the Lokoja-Abuja highway have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security DSS.

In a statement on Sunday, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said the suspected criminals were apprehended on March 26.

The DSS, in collaboration with sister agencies, also arrested a 20-year-old suspected kidnapper, identified as Haruna Adamu, in Adamawa.

Afunanya said a suspected gunrunner was apprehended in Abuja while travelling from Nasarawa to deliver arms to bandits in Niger state.

“The sum of twenty-one thousand, four hundred naira (N21,400) was also recovered from the suspect. Earlier on 22nd March, 2023, Babangida Ibrahim, an arms courier to bandits in Zamfara state was apprehended along Bukuru in Jos South LGA, Plateau state.

“Recovered from him were four hundred and sixty-eight (468) rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition and the sum of twenty one thousand, ninety naira (21, 090).”

The DSS spokesperson said all the suspects are in custody and would be subsequently prosecuted.

He added that the DSS will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to address crimes in the country.

News

Pandora Papers: Law Firm Asks CCB To Prosecute Peter Obi For Not Fully Declaring Assets

A Lagos-based law firm, Lawflex has asked the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to prosecute Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, over his alleged failure to declare secret assets stashed in tax havens while he was Anambra state governor.

In a petition dated March 23 and received by the CCB on the same day, Olukoya Ogungbeje, the signee, urged the bureau to commence an immediate investigation against Obi and invite him for questioning.

The law firm threatened to seek a “judicial review by way of an Order of Mandamus in a court of competent jurisdiction in a bid to compel performance of public duty” if the CCB fails to take constitutional action within 30 days.

Leaked files, which were retrieved from 14 offshore service firms around the world and revealed in a Pandora Papers project led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and which Premium Times was a part, had shown how the former governor failed to declare assets kept in tax havens.

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“A Fine Officer”, Lawan Mourns Diya

Ahmad Lawan, president of the Senate has sent his condolences to the family of a former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya, over his death on Sunday.

Lawan also condoled with the government and people of Ogun State over the loss of the one-time number two citizen under the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

He described Gen Diya as a fine officer who played his role dutifully during some of Nigeria’s most critical times.

Lawan said, “Diya kept his dignity under the unfortunate circumstances that ended his military career and remained a respected member of his community until he breathed his last.”

The Senate president also prayed for sweet repose of the soul of the departed General and for fortitude for his family, friends and associates to bear his loss.