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JUST IN: Police Grill FIJ BoT Chair, Declare Award-winning Investigative Journalist, Soyombo Wanted

Published

1 month ago

March 29, 2024

By Our Reporter

The Nigeria Police Force has asked the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Board of Trustees Chairman, Mrs. Bukky Shonibare, to produce the medium Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief, Fisayo Soyombo.

The invitation, according to findings, may not be unconnected to the irregularities recently exposed by the FIJ in the country’s customs service.

Narrating her ordeal when she honoured the police invitation in Abuja, the BOT chairman, Mrs Shonibare cleared the air that the Investigative journalist is not on the run as believed by the police, adding that he would honour their inviitation if invited

According to her, “Fisayo is willing to honour the police invitation if invited and clarified that the award-winning journalist is not on the run as assumed by the police.”

She added, “The investigator told me that I need to produce ‘Fisayo. So I said, if he said I need to produce ‘Fisayo, that sounds like you have tried to get ‘Fisayo or you’ve invited him and he did not come, so you need me, in whatever capacity, to go and produce him.

“So, I had to clarify that ‘Fisayo was not on the run; it is not like they had invited him and he didn’t come. So, he asked when I could come with ‘Fisayo, I asked if he was inviting me again. He said, yes, but I had to return with ‘Fisayo.

“So, I told him we have to get back to ‘Fisayo and to know when he’ll be available to come, and when he’s around; ‘Fisayo is not running. He took the statement in and came back outside and asked us to come see the deputy director. He had exited at some point into the questioning.

“So, they took us in and he said, madam, how was it? I told him that questions were asked, and questions were answered. He asked if I was treated well, and I said that was subjective. He then said that he could see we were being careful and all of that, that we could be friends. He was doing everything possible to be nice and playful.

“He asked why FIJ was not like another specific non-profit organisation.

“The deputy director said that he was friends with this non-profit organisation. He said that they would go to do their research and bring the information to the police. ‘So, why are we publishing our work?’ he asked. ‘Why don’t we bring some findings to them and settle things amicably?’

“I told him that FIJ is the Foundation for Investigative Journalism. That’s the work that we do. We’re not another befriending non-profit bringing stories to them. We don’t work that way. Our job is to publish stories.”

News

Moment Chief Defense Staff Hosts Prince Harry, Meghan Markle In Reception [VIDEO/PHOTOS]

Published

9 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a reception hosted by the Chief of Defense Staff.

This was after they attended a volleyball game earlier in the day.

During the reception, which held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess & Suites in Abuja, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received asho oke gifts from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

The couple also danced with Dabiri-Erewa.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the royal couple to Nigeria’s rich socio-cultural heritage and provide an opportunity for the Duchess of Sussex to explore her Nigerian lineage.

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News

JUST IN: Again, Aircraft Skids Off Runway At Lagos Airport

Published

16 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Photo: file copy

Barely 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities, another aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday.

Following this development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut the 18/Left runway of the airport

The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ with 52 passengers on board departed Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11.29 am.

Just last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a skidding off of the runway, necessitating the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the suspension of the carrier for a comprehensive auditing.

Last year, in November, two aircraft from two different airlines skidded off the runway, in one week.

Aero Contractors, flight NG 119 with a registered Boeing 737 aircraft 5N-BYQ from Lagos to Abuja had a total of 133 passengers on board.

All passengers were safely evacuated through a controlled disembarkation.

The temporary closure of the runway by FAAN limits the airport to one single runway which is expected to lead to aircraft delays and landing.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olajide, confirmed that an aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Saturday.

She stated that a team had been deployed to the site of the incident.

“Our teams are there and on top of the matter. But whether or not the runway will be reopened today, i cannot immediately answer questions on that.” NSIB spokesperson told PUNCH Online.

News

Ededuna Obaseki’s Descendants Congratulate King Charles On Coronation Anniversary

Published

19 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The entire direct descendants of World War II Veteran and a recipient of World War II Medals of Honour, Capt. Ededuna Walter Obaseki, has congratulated His Majesty King Charles III on his first coronation anniversary.

A congratulatory message signed by Mercy Ededuna Obaseki on behalf of The descendants, and made available to INFO DAILY prayed God to bless the King with long life, honour, and good health.

“We wish His Majesty good health so that he can effectively pilot the affairs of The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and The Realms of The Commonwealth,” the message added.

The descendants, while thanking the British government for preserving the records of their late father, urged the King of the Great Britain to “start soon, the Colonial Legacy review in Nigeria because it is so important to us.”

While approaching efforts being made by His Majesty to review Colonial Legacies, the descendants said in hearing the King’s move to review it, “our Joy knew no bounds, and this feeling of great Joy increased more abundantly when we saw that indeed he was already doing this.”

“We watched with great happiness and excitement, The King presenting replacement World War II Medals in Kenya to the Veterans of The Second World War.

“We hope the King will also take action soon in actualising and fulfilling our dreams that both the British and the Nigerian government meet our demands that our father’s entitlements and work benefits be paid to we his direct descendants. It is also our prayer that the King empowers and supports us in our quests and in the present circumstances that we are in right now, your quick help is highly solicited.

“Our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki was a captain of the British Merchant Navy, a World War II Veteran and a recipient of The World War II Campaigns and Gallantry Medals of Honour. The 1939-1945; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; British War Medals were
Awarded to our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki and other officers and Seamen of the British Merchant Navy by HRM King George VI.

“Obaseki was a pioneer industrialist, governor, prime minister and head of government, and he handled the British administration in Southern Nigeria that brought great success to Nigeria in many areas like modern agriculture, education, healthcare, and maritime Shipping. The forming, shaping and developing of the navies during the time of the boom that both countries enjoyed and its citizens can still speak well of in sheer glories of remarkable advancement today.

“We are aware of some attempts by the Federal Government of Nigeria particularly in 2014 to help bring out and make known, the legacies of those that played active and very important roles in making this country Nigeria to be great, especially the Merchant Navy Officers who were the first ambassadors, head of administration and head of the British Board of Trade that brought about very positive growth and boom in Nigeria through the exports of timber, rubber, cocoa and palm produce, etc.

“We also want the distinguished senators and honourable members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria to grant our request that our father’s entitlements and work benefits for service in Nigeria to be paid to us by the Nigerian government. We need them (The Law Makers) to use their voice to also make our demands from The British Government.”