Author: Nsikak Ibatt

An unidentified armed robber has been set ablaze by unknown people along Mayne Avenue by Inyang Street, a popular street at Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State. The area is largely residential. And, most residents and commuters in the region said  they woke up to meet the bandit was burnt to ashes already However, an eye witness who pleaded to be anonymous said the incident occurred as about 4:00AM on Monday morning. Additionally, another eye witnessed said; “as they were beating him, he was begging that they should forgive him he will not do it again. He…

The University of Calabar, UNICAL ASUU chapter fear the second wave of the novel Coronavirus will be more ferocious. The union Chairman, Dr John Edor, told newsmen that the association would not allow its members to be exposed to health hazards. “As a union , we are not too quick to talk. We are not too fast to become meddlesome . They have said schools are permitted to resume on the 18 th of January , 2021 . If by then we see that the necessary things are not put in place for the resumption , the union will come…

Some branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday did assessed COVID- 19 protocols in the universities and said the institutions were not ready for safe reopening . Addressing newsmen, most of the union chapters applauded the National University Commission (NUC) who earlier gave a green light that Varsities can resume on January 18, but must adhere to COVID- 19 protocols in hostels and lecture halls. The Union said that although its members were ready to start work on the government on the 18th of January, the FG is still yet to put measures in place for safe…

A federal hight court in Abuja today dismissed the certificate forgery suit labelled against the governor of Edo State H.E Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People Democratic Party (PDP) by the All Progressive Congress (APC). Justice Ahmed Mohammed in Abuja dismissed the suit filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and a chieftain of the party, Williams Edobor, against the governor, in a judgement delivered on Saturday in the nation’s capital. The APC and Edobor had filed the suit alleging that Governor Obaseki presented a forged certificate to seek re-election in the Edo State governorship election held on September 19,…

Air traffic control in Indonesia lost contact with a Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 passenger plane with 62 onboard shortly after it took off from Jakarta on Saturday, the official has said. The domestic flight took off from the capital at 13:56 (7:56 CET) local time heading for Pontianak on the island of Borneo, government spokesman Adita Irawati said. It went missing shortly after 14:40 (8:40 CET). Flight tracker website FlightRadar24 showed Sriwijaya Air flight SJ182 disappear from radars shortly after takeoff, losing more than 3km of altitude in under a minute. A statement released by the airline said the plane…

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on Forestry Mr Thomas Obi Tawo was on December 30th 2020 attempted assassination on a Commissioner 2 in the state Civil Service Commission, Mr Thomas Onabe, which resulted in bullying and destruction of his private car – Toyota Camry with registered plain number ABJ 271PR This unlawful act and sad event which took place in Oku community in Boki local government area, was not the first sad unlawful and brutal act to have come from a Senior Government official. The SA have been involve lot of human right abuses, destruction…

It was a sad moment for Abankang and Alok communities both in Ikom Local Government Area as no fewer than six (6) lives have been lost in the inter-communal conflict between the two neighboring communities both located along Ikom-Ogoja highway According to verified reports, the two communities had engaged an argument over the ownership of a parcel of land at their boundary and on Wednesday strife broke out. However, a resident of the area by name Mrs Janet Ndome told newsmen on the phone that crisis broke out when youths from the two communities engaged each other in a fight…

The assistant speaker of the House said Democrats could vote on impeachment next week. President Trump will not attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. With less than two weeks left of Mr. Trump’s presidency, a wave of resignations hits his cabinet. Democrats plunge forward with impeachment plans, with possible action next week. The White House slips deeper into crisis in the final days of the Trump presidency. Flags will fly at half-staff to honor the Capitol Police officer who died after the mob attack. Dominion Voting Systems files defamation lawsuit against pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell. Trump thanks Republicans for their ‘loyalty’ in…

Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mfon Bassey in EFCC net in Uyo He was arrested yesterday (Thursday) morning in his house in Calabar. According to report, Mfon has been going and coming on several invitations by the commission. However on Thursday, the Commission decided to keep him since following new revelations. Furthermore, we also learnt that the arrest is connected to fake contract documents to obtain funds and other related fraud. It is alleged that the Commissioner opened a proxy account with documents suspected to be impersonated, from where he launder funds for the Governor’s younger brother, Frank…

Cross River State Senate Caucus Leader, and member of the Nigeria Senate, Sen. Gershom Bassey and stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State have hailed the Supreme Court judgment over the issue of Wards and Chapter executives in the state. However, Sen. Bassey thanked God and the court for the fair judgment and enjoined “all party men and women to come together to move the party forward, to even greater heights. Meanwhile, member representing Yakurr 1 State Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nelson Ofem has congratulated the victory of Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom…

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved January 18th, 2021 for reopening of all Nigerian Universities, with the directive of the Presidential Tasks Force (PTF) on Covid-19. However, the commission urges all institutions not to violate the full cycle of the semester system in accordance to the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS). Furthermore, the commission did advice Universities to adhere strictly to all Covid19 safety measures. Attached is the memo released by the institution today and signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Admin) – Chris J. Maiyaki

It’s no news that the Federal Government through the National Communication Commission did extend deadline from blocking of sims not link to their National Identification Number (NIN) the federal government said subscribers with NIN have a three-weeks extension from December 30, 2020, to January 19, 2021 for linking up; while those without NIN now have till February 9, 2021, unlike the initial December 30, 2020 deadline. However, with the deadline now barely a month, most NIMC Registration centres in Cross River State are charging citizens from 1000 – 3000 naira as registration. NIMC centres seeing the urgency and importance of…

Contrary to speculations on some media platforms that the Nigerian Army has pulled out of the Operation Akpakwu due to disagreements over payment of operation allowances, Permanent Secretary on Security Alfred Mboto said that such report is false as the Army has not pulled out from Operation Akpakwu. He said this while addressing newsmen today. However, the state taskforce – Operation Akpakwu conducted a simulation drill in calabar. The exercise held in the full glare of the public at the popular Mobil petrol station by MCC, along Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar.

The winner of the last year’s BBNaija reality show, Agbelese Olamilekan aka Laycon has been bestowed with a traditional title. The rapper who is expected to drop his first album this year was recently installed as the Akeweje of Ipokia kingdom, in Ogun State. The title was given to the reality TV star by the Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Yisa Adesola Olaniyan in a recent ceremony. The traditional ruler had described Laycon as a good ambassador to Ipokia and a positive inspiration to all Nigerian youths. Laycon, in the last days of 2020, announced plans to release his debut album…

The Nigeria Bar Association In Cross River State has called on the cross river state government to pay protesting magistrates their 24 months salaries. Speaking to newsmen, the NBA chairman calabar branch, Paul Ibiala stressed that the failure of the state government to pay salaries of judges will compromise the quality of judicial process in the state. Ibiala further revealed that while the NBA cannot intervene in the crisis, the judges should approach the National Industrial Court for remedy if the state government does not pay the salary arrears. The magistrates protest over salaries arrears got the attention of other…

Bolt drivers in calabar known as e-drivers visited the orphanage on 1st January 2021 as way of giving back to the less privileged. The drivers visited the orphanage and drop some food items worth thousands of naira with orphans and vulnerable children around “It’s one way to give back to the society and we are happy we are doing this with the orphans” – one of the driver said.