BIG NEWS STORIES THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

CROSS RIVER STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, PROMISES TO AMELIORATE THE SUFFERINGS OF VICTIMS OF MARIAN MARKET FIRE INCIDENT.

The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, has assured that it will do its bid to ameliorate the plights of the shops owners, whose goods and property were gutted in Wednesday night’s fire at Marian Market.

The Director General of SEMA Ayim Princewill, made the pledge in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, while carrying out an on-the-spot assessment at the scene of the occurrence.

While urging the market union to carry out proper sensitization of its members, Ayim Princewill also called on the union to provide adequate security at the market, in order to prevent looting of goods and property belonging to shop owners, during unpredictable occurrences.

FIRE DESTROYS GOODS AND PROPERTY WORTH MILLIONS OF NAIRA AT THE MARIAN MARKET CALABAR

Goods and Property worth millions of naira were on Wednesday night destroyed by fire at the Marian market, Calabar.

Some traders at the market and eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the fire which started at the plantain line at 7pm, lasted for hours without any help from the fire service, despite calls put across to them

The traders said the fire may have been triggered by electricity.

They also appeal to the government to find permanent solution to the numerous fire incident.

Meanwhile the market master, Emmanuel Mboro said the chairman of Calabar municipal local government area has promised to help renovate the market.

Correspondent Bassey Ebingha reports that the federal airport authority fire service arrived the scene at about 2 minutes after 11pm, but were advised to live in order not incur the wrath of the traders who had almost completely put out the fire.

CROSS RIVER STATE POLICE COMMAND PARADES FIFTY-ONE SUSPECTED CULTISTS ARRESTED WITH HUMAN SKULLS

Fifty-six suspected cultists have been arrested with human skulls in Calabar and Ogoja, Cross River State.

Fifty-one suspects, who were intercepted at the 8 Miles area of Calabar on their way to Akwa Ibom State, were paraded on Wednesday by the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Jimoh.

The suspects, comprising 46 males and five females, were arrested with three human skulls on Monday, August 17, 2020.

LEGAL PRACTITIONER FAULTS DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS BELONGING TO SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS.

A legal practitioner, Otum Item says the demolition of buildings belonging to suspected kidnappers by the Cross River state government may have been carried out, because of the increasing number of kidnap cases in the state.

His comment comes following recent criticisms that the demolition of the buildings should have waited, until the suspects are convicted by a court.

While reiterating the position of the law, which presumes innocence until proven guilty, Otum Item expressed support to what he termed unorthodox way of eradicating kidnapping.

The legal practitioner however described the public parade of suspected criminals by the police as media trail, which should not happen in an ideal society.

ONE THOUSAND YOUTHS FROM ALL 18 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF CRS TO BENEFIT WORLD BANK AGRO PROJECT

No Fewer than one thousand Women and Youths from all the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State, will benefit from the World Bank Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support Project. 

The state governor Ben Ayade, who was represented by the state Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, disclosed this during the flag off of the second phase of the World Bank Support Project training on Poultry Farming and its value chains, held in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

EFCC LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO ACTIVITIES OF MINISTER FOR NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, says it has launched an investigation into the activities of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, and the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Kemebradikumo Pondei.

The EFCC said this in an invitation letter addressed to a group, Foundation for True Freedom and Good Governance, led by activist, Deji Adeyanju.

In the letter, the EFCC revealed that it was indeed probing the NDDC, and called on Adeyanju to come clarify some of the allegations.

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE NATION’S ECONOMY TO AVERT LOOMING RECESSION

The Executive Secretary, Calabar Chamber of Commerce, industry, mines and agriculture, Kenneth Assim-Ita, says for the federal government to avert the looming recession as announced by the minister of finance, the government needs to pay more attention to the production capacity of the nation’s economy.

In a telephone with our correspondent, Assim-Ita said the government must also ensure that stimulus packages are provided for industries that are manufacturing locally.

The Executive Secretary also spoke on the scarcity of foreign exchange, which has triggered the devaluation of the naira.

NLC CALLS ON NASS TO ACCELERATE PASSAGE OF ELECTORAL REFORM BILL.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Yiaga Africa have called on the National Assembly to accelerate the passage of the Electoral Reform Amendment Bill.

NLC President Ayuba Wabba, made the call at a Round-table meeting on Electoral Reform in collaboration with Yiaga Africa on Wednesday in Abuja, stressed the need for improvement in Nigeria’s electoral process, especially the aspect of the law that deals with how to choose a candidate.

On his part, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said the move has become necessary in order to avoid the reoccurrence of what happened in the 8th Assembly.

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ORDERS MALIAN MUTINEERS TO RELEASE THE COUNTRY’S PRESIDENT AND RETURN TO THE BARRACKS.

United Nations Security Council on Wednesday ordered Malian mutineers to immediately release detained officials, including the country’s president, and “return to their barracks without delay.”

In a statement, the 15 members also “underlined the urgent need to restore rule of law and to move towards the return to constitutional order.

The order comes shortly after Malian army officer Colonel Assimi Ita announced himself as the coup leader and promised to hold election

Meanwhile, the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States will Thursday hold an Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in that country.

A statement on Wednesday revealed that the summit would hold virtually through video conference.

RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY HOSPITALIZED, AFTER FALLING ILL FROM SUSPECTED POISONING DURING A FLIGHT

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in a coma, and on a ventilator in a hospital in Siberia, after falling ill from suspected poisoning during a flight.

His spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh on Thursday said Navalny was flying from Siberia to Moscow after a work trip to Tomsk, when his plane made an emergency landing after he fell ill.

Yarmysh added that they suspected something may had been mixed into his tea while on board.

TYLER PERRY TO BE HONOURED WITH TELEVISION ACADEMY GOVERNORS AWARD AT PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS.

Hollywood star, Tyler Perry will be honoured with the Television Academy’s Governors Award at next month’s Primetime Emmy Awards.

Academy chiefs announced in a statement that the star and his Perry Foundation will receive the accolade for his unprecedented achievements in television and his commitment to offering opportunities to marginalized communities.

Perry is the first person to receive the Governors’ Award since 2014.

VALANCE CONFIRMS THAT SHE HAS BEEN VICTIM OF A “TRAUMATIZING” CYBER-CRIME.

Australian actress and model Olympia Valance has issued a powerful statement, confirming that she has been the victim of a “traumatizing” cyber-crime.

The Neighbours actress said her phone had been hacked, and private images shared without her consent.

In a post on her verified Instagram page, Valance explained that she had been dealing with the “profound violation” for over a year, which had “pushed her anxiety to a space,it has never been”.

RIVERS UNITED DEBUNKS CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE AGREED ON A DEAL WITH NFF ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE POINT-PER-GAME OVER THE 2019/2020 FOOTBALL SEASON.

Rivers United have denied stories that they have agreed on a deal with the Nigeria Football Federation, to accept whatever decision that evolves from the ongoing intervention of the Federation, on the interpretation of the Point-Per-Game over the 2019/2020 Football Season.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, said neither his ministry nor Rivers United, have conceded its protest for second place on the Nigeria Professional Football League table to the NFF, or League Management Company.

Elsewhere, Premier League champions Liverpool will face newly-promoted Leeds United, on the opening weekend of the 2020/2021 season, but both Manchester City and Manchester Unite, will sit out the first round of fixtures.

NFF SECRETARIAT TO BE SHUT DOWN AFTER ONE OF ITS OFFICIALS TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS.

The Nigeria Football Federation says its secretariat will be shut down after one of its officials tested positive for coronavirus.

A statement by the General Secretary of the Federation, Mohammed Sanusi, noted that its members of staff would undergo COVID-19 tests on Thursday, while offices would be closed, with Management and Staff working from home.

Elsewhere, FIFA’s ethics committee has decided to close its case against President Gianni Infantino, who is facing a criminal probe in Switzerland over suspected collusion with the country’s top prosecutor.

In a statement on Wednesday, the world football governing body said after examining the relevant documentation and evidence, the chairperson of the investigatory chamber has decided to file the complaint and close the case due to the evident lack of a prima facie case regarding any alleged breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

EDITOR(S) – Onyekachi Nwosu

REPORTER(S) – Happiness Ifiok