The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, has re-affirmed the victory of Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP as the duly elected Governor of Plateau State.

In March , the INEC declared PDP’s Mutfwang the winner of the election after he secured 525,299 votes, to defeat the APC Candidate, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who garnered 481,370 votes.

Dissatisfied with the results as declared by the Commission, Nentawe and the APC approached the tribunal seeking redress. INEC, Mutfwang and PDP are listed as the first, second and third respondents, respectively.

Nentawe & APC’s petitions are premised on 3 grounds:

(1) That the 2nd Respondent was not qualified to participate in the election because his Party, the PDP had no valid structure in the State and hence could not produce a Candidate to contest the aforesaid Office.

(2) That INEC didn’t comply with the Electoral Act and guidelines during the conduct of the election.

(3) That 14 Polling Units were excluded from Naraguta B Ward in Jos North LGA, alongside non-use of the BVAS in several wards.

The Petitioners called up 49 witnesses, the PDP 4 witnesses and INEC didn’t call any witness.

The Court dismissed the preliminary objections and delved into the merit of the petition.

On Ground 1
"The witness under cross-examination admitted he is not a member of the PDP, but that he got the information from an agent about the Primaries and hitherto the invalid PDP Structure in the State. His evidence is declared incompetent and all documents tendered through them are rejected."

The tribunal is of the view that the 3rd Respondent (PDP) conducted a repeat Congress on 25th September 2021 which was upheld by the Appeal Court in February 2023.(Augustine Timkuk Vs PDP).

The APC witness under its cross-examination admitted that there was a repeat Congress.
What is admitted needs no further proof. The APC has admitted in its petition that the PDP repeated its congress.

The tribunal held that no matter how disgruntled another person feels on the conduct of another party’s primaries, it must keep mum as it is not a member of that party. Such a person therefore, lacks the locus standi to challenge such a congress or primary election.

The Petitioner is obviously crying more than the bereaved. Hence, the Petitioners dwelled on multiple pre-election matters. The tribunal says it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the Petitioner’s challenge of the repeated congress as they are busybodies and meddlesome interlopers.

Issues surrounding Party Congresses, nomination and sponsorship are pre-election matters, the PDP has a valid and reliable structure in the State, Ground 1 is resolved in favour of the Respondents, the tribunal held.

On Ground 2
On cross-examination, the witnesses called by the Petitioners agreed that where there was no BVAS, it was four out of four voters. 

The Petitioners failed to show there was over-voting on a polling unit by polling unit basis. Their evidence is at best hearsays.

There was multiple arithmetic errors and inconsistencies by the expert witness presented by the petitioners. These are signals for the tribunal to take the evidence by a pinch of salt.

A Petitioner in an election matter is expected to produce two copies of election results, one he is alleging is wrong and the actual copies. 
This they failed to do as required by law. The Petitioners only provided the results tendered by INEC.

The attempt by the petitioner to prove over-voting falls like a pack of cards. Ground 2 is also resolved in favour of the respondents, the tribunal held.

Ground 3
The tribunal held that despite the wild allegations by Petitioners, there is no evidence to show that the election was not lawfully held as Petitioners did not tender another result to be considered authentic, there is therefore no basis to nullify the election.

There were very many errors by Petitioners’ expert witness under Cross examination and a primary 6 pupil will do better in his basic arithmetic.

The Petitioners’ petition is a wild goose chase and is bound to fail. The petition is thereby dismissed for lacking in merit.

Reduce workdays to 4, MURIC tells FG 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the federal government to reduce workdays to four throughout Nigeria. 

MURIC’s Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, in a statement yesterday, said the removal of fuel subsidy had started a bandwagon effect on the lives of Nigerians in different ways, particularly transportation.

He said, “Transport fares have skyrocketed to unbearable levels in all parts of the country, leading to a situation where workers and other commuters get stranded midway. 

“The MURIC is deeply concerned about the plight of poor Nigerians who are getting stranded on the way due to a rise in transport fares. We are particularly worried about the fate of students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions whose pocket money and allowances are fast drying up and those whose pocket monies cannot take them home.

“As our honest and sincere contribution to the search for interventions and palliatives, MURIC suggests that FG should reduce workdays from five to four. This will make Nigeria’s workdays start from Monday to Thursday if this policy is adopted. 

“This template has been tried in Kaduna State and it is still working well. It has brought happiness to both workers and students in the state since it was introduced three years ago,” he said. 

“The latest model is that of Kwara State where the state government introduced a three-day work week two days ago. State governments may pick their own preferences,” he added.

In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians on the occasion.

She said; “Nigeria’s democratic journey has, like in many other climes, encountered both stormy and smooth sails, but the ship of State, it’s institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance.

“On this memorable occasion therefore, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are invited to appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate the milestones covered and look forward to a better future for the country’s democracy.

“The Permanent Secretary wishes all Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day celebration”.

NYSC in responses filed in the Abuja court, submitted documentary proofs that point to a possible case of forgery against the Enugu State governor.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has responded to the suit brought against it by the newly sworn-in Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, over his controversial NYSC discharge certificate.

NYSC in responses filed in the Abuja court, submitted documentary proofs that point to a possible case of forgery against the Enugu State governor.

A deposition at the Federal High Court, Abuja, taken from the Assistant Director in the Corps Certification Department, Mrs. Rhoda Dawa, revealed that the discharge certificate that Governor Mbah claimed was issued to him did not emanate from the NYSC.

Documents submitted to the court by the NYSC to prove that the Enugu State governor may have submitted a forged discharge certificate include the alleged forged certificate Mbah submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, a photocopy of the original copy of the certificate that was to be issued to Mbah, a date sheet showing where discharged corps members signed for their certificates, another data sheet with the names of unclaimed certificates, official circulars authorising the destruction of unclaimed certificates, photographs of the incineration of the unclaimed discharge certificates, samples of the NYSC discharge certificates during the period the governor was supposed to have performed his compulsory national service, Police and Department of State Services’ letters of investigation, among others.

SaharaReporters had reported that Governor Mbah, in his court filings, claimed that he duly completed his national youth service and was given a certificate of discharge.

The governor earlier sued the NYSC, claiming N20 billion in damages for what he described as conspiracy, deceit, and misrepresentation of facts.

Mbah is also seeking a declaration that he participated in the NYSC scheme for one calendar year via a call-up letter numbered FRN/2001/800351 with the Lagos code LA/01/1532.

He argued that the declaration must state that he was issued a certificate of national service numbered A808297 upon completing his service year in 2003.

But contrary to these claims, the NYSC, in its deposition, which SaharaReporters sighted on Sunday, insisted that the Enugu State governor did not complete his service year and that the certificate of discharge he parades was not issued by the body.

To prove its claim, the NYSC filed as evidence, the data sheet where Mbah was to have signed and collected his discharge certificate, saying that while the certificate presented by the Enugu governor bears the serial number - A808297, the one prepared for him, but which he did not collect, bore the serial number - 673517.

In what looks like forensic evidence, the NYSC made reference to the calligraphic writing on Mbah’s certificate and stated that the style of the writing on the governor’s certificate was quite different from the one on all other certificates issued to discharged corps members during his batch.

Stating that the corps directorate hired one person for the calligraphic writings on all certificates, it insisted that there was no way Mbah’s own could be different from those of other corps members that passed out during the same period.

“The 1" Respondent’s (NYSC) National Directorate Headquarters issued the Certificates for the Members of the Service Corps in Lagos State, including the Certificate of the Applicant, using a Certificate Issuance Register.

“The register indicated the basic data of the Members of the Service Corps, including their State Code, name, Call-Up Number, and Certificate Number in serial form. A copy of the relevant page of the Certificate Issuance Register at the National Directorate Headquarters, showing the Applicant in asterisks with Certificate Number 673517, is attached herewith and marked as Exhibit ‘NYSC 5,’” the NYSC said in its deposition.

The NYSC also stated that contrary to Mbah’s claim that his probable date of discharge was September 15, 2002, his probable date of discharge upon completing his programme at the Nigerian Law School, was September 15, 2003.

It was further averred that Peter Mbah was not issued any discharge certificate by the NYSC because he did not complete his service year, even when he was mobilised for the same.

The NYSC further noted that the discharge certificate prepared for him was later returned to its headquarters, along with other unclaimed certificates, after which it was destroyed along with other unclaimed certificates, in the presence of security operatives.

“Following the 1" Respondent’s Top Management’s directive on 18th August 2021, all the outdated, unused, and cancelled Certificates of National Service and Certificates of Exemption, Certificates of absconded Members of the Service Corps, including the Applicant’s Certificate Number A673517 which he was not available to collect, have been disposed of by incineration,” the NYSC further said in its deposition.

Mbah on Saturday threatened to close schools, markets and motor parks and businesses that failed to open for business or academic activities on Monday.

Residents of Enugu city, the Enugu State capital, southeast Nigeria and its environs have reinforced the Monday sit-at-home despite the state government’s ban on the ’illegal sit-at-home’.

SaharaReporters had reported that Governor Peter Mbah on Saturday threatened to close schools, markets and motor parks and businesses that failed to open for business or academic activities on Monday, June 5, 2023, and thereafter.

The governor had in a public service announcement on Saturday stated that the directive followed his recent ban/cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home exercise in all nooks and crannies of the state, starting from Monday, June 5, 2023.

Mbah had said: "This is to inform all schools, markets, retail outlets, hospitals, transporters, malls and the general members of the public that, in view of the recent ban/cancellation of Mondays’ sit-at-home by the Government of Enugu State, in all nooks and crannies of the state, they have been directed to go about their normal businesses and activities every day of the week, including Mondays.

"The above-mentioned bodies and others alike are required to comply with the directive as adequate security measures have been taken to guarantee their safety.

Members of the government’s task force will be moving around to monitor compliance. Any market, transport outlet, or any other body that fails to open for business risks being shut down immediately."

However, SaharaReporters which monitored the compliance level on Monday morning observed that residents instead reenforced the sit-at-home exercise.

For instance, visits to Holy Ghost, Old Park, Garrik, Emene, Eke-Obinagu, Abakpa and Zik Avenue showed that unlike previous Mondays in recent months when some people came out to open their businesses early; this time, roads were totally deserted.

Schools within the city centre and on the outskirts of the state capital were shut while filling stations were also closed. At the Holy Ghost area where there are lots of motor parks, the story was the same. All transport companies in the area totally their businesses. At Old Orie Emene, commuters deserted the roads. Also, Enugu-Abakaliki Road which is almost ever busy, was deserted. For 30 minutes, SaharaReporters observed that no single vehicle passed the road.

However, there were a few buses and tricycle operators on roads inside communities but there were no passengers to carry. Some private vehicles were also seen plying the roads.

A witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has testified that both the party’s candidate and President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not qualified to be declared as president for not scoring 25 percent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

While testifying under cross examination by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mohammed Aliyu, he said the 25 percent was compulsory condition to be declared as president.

When he was asked if his statement was his personal opinion, he said no, that it was based on the constitutional provision.

In response to a question on whether his candidate got the required result in the FCT, he said “My candidate did not score 25 percent of votes in the FCT by the purported result published by INEC.”

Under cross examination by counsel to Tinubu, Akin Olujimi (SAN), he insisted that his assertion was based on the law.

He, however, admitted that he was neither a lawyer nor a mathematician.

Under cross examination by counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Madaki admitted that FCT is like any other state.

Daily Trust recalls that Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, polled over 25 percent in FCT during the February 25 election.

By Udeme Akpan, Obas Esiedesa, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Ediri Ejoh & Mariam Eko


The downstream end of the Nigerian petroleum industry has gone into a frenzy as operators respond to the immediate removal of subsidy on petrol with a sharp hike in pump price just as consumers crowded to the petrol stations.

Commercial transporters have also hiked their trip fares across the country in response to the developments.

On his inaugural speech yesterday, the new president, Bola Tinubu, had stated that “petroleum subsidy is gone”.

Checks by Vanguard in Lagos showed that some marketers responded by increasing their prices by about 100 percent to N370 from N185 per litre.

However, few other stations especially the major marketers, sold between N195 and N220 per litre across Lagos and Abuja.
Our findings also showed that some of the petrol stations operators simply shut their filling stations, thus leading to the emergence of long queues.

This is even as depot owners shut their operations, arguing that further clarification was needed to guide activities on the implementation of the new order.

In Abuja, long queues re-emerged at petrol stations as motorists reacted to the removal of subsidy on petrol.


Transporters hike fares

Meanwhile, commuters were seen stranded at various bus stops waiting to board commercial bus which may have been trapped in the frenzy that greeted the petrol subsidy removal.

Few of the buses that were on the road for business hiked the fares between 50 and 100 per cent over fear of impending scarcity.
One of the motorists, wearing a long face, who spoke with this reporter at one of the fuel stations selling petrol, lamented, “Why would Tinubu start on this note to punish the already depressed, impoverished Nigerians inflicted by the out-gone administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is absolutely unfair to Nigerians. When I heard that Tinubu has directed the removal of oil subsidy, I had to rush down here to fill my tank and some jerry cans for my power generating set.”

Also, Mr John Akinloye, a motorist along the Agege area, said, “I was not surprised to see queues at the fuel stations after the announcement. I just pray this sad and unfortunate development will not last so as not to put suffering masses in another round of economic and mental torture.

“I have been at the fuel station for over an hour, and am yet to get to the fuel pump point. Even the fuel attendants are not willing to sell more than N3,000 per buyer. If you want to buy N4,000 they are refusing.”

At Conoil and Adova Petroleum stations located in Karu area of the nation’s capital, long queues were observed with stations selling at N195 per litre.

At petrol stations operated by independent marketers, pump price was hiked to between N315 and N370 per litre with the topmost price range recorded in other parts of the country outside Lagos and Abuja.

The situation, it was gathered might worsen in the coming days as workers and business owners return to work today after the holiday declared for the inauguration of the new president.

Meanwhile, most stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard on the development believed that the subsidy removal was a right step.


Fuel subsidy removal , long overdue — MD, 11 Plc

Immediate past chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, who doubles as the Managing Director, 11PLC, Adetunji Oyebanji, said: “This is a welcome development. The country is bleeding every day and we are getting to a stage where if we are not careful all our revenue will be going into world-serving debt and going into the subsidy, which means we have no money left to do any other thing to pay salaries.

“The people kicking against this interest will end up suffering even more. The amount of money spent on this subsidy has been documented in so many different foray, different places, people have talked about it over the years and to make matters worse a lot of it is going towards subsiding other companies in Africa, hence it has to go.”

Oyebanji, who noted that the fuel subsidy removal was long overdue, said: “I have been an advocate of the removal of fuel subsidy because it is not benefiting the ordinary man but rather the elite who drive cars. So, I was pleased with the planned removal.”


We cannot borrow to pay fuel subsidy — EnergyHub

Similarly, the Lead Promoter, EnergyHub Nigeria, Prof. Felix Amieyeofori, said: “This is a welcome development for the oil and gas industry. We support it because it is only benefiting the elites. Government should direct the subsidy to other strategic economic programmes. We cannot borrow to pay subsidy.”


Fuel subsidy, cheap way of making money — OGSPAN

But National President, Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mazi Colman Obasi, who described fuel subsidy as a cheap way of making money, said: “We have heard that before. It is said that’s easier said than done. Anything that would remove cheap money can be resisted. Fuel subsidy is one of such cheap monies. I have read the speech it sounds nice. I cannot remember the last inaugural presidential speech that the promises and hopes were implemented the way it was spoken in the history of Nigeria. Let us wait and see.”

By Udeme Akpan, Obas Esiedesa, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Ediri Ejoh & Mariam Eko


The downstream end of the Nigerian petroleum industry has gone into a frenzy as operators respond to the immediate removal of subsidy on petrol with a sharp hike in pump price just as consumers crowded to the petrol stations.

Commercial transporters have also hiked their trip fares across the country in response to the developments.

On his inaugural speech yesterday, the new president, Bola Tinubu, had stated that “petroleum subsidy is gone”.

Checks by Vanguard in Lagos showed that some marketers responded by increasing their prices by about 100 percent to N370 from N185 per litre.

However, few other stations especially the major marketers, sold between N195 and N220 per litre across Lagos and Abuja.
Our findings also showed that some of the petrol stations operators simply shut their filling stations, thus leading to the emergence of long queues.

This is even as depot owners shut their operations, arguing that further clarification was needed to guide activities on the implementation of the new order.

In Abuja, long queues re-emerged at petrol stations as motorists reacted to the removal of subsidy on petrol.


Transporters hike fares

Meanwhile, commuters were seen stranded at various bus stops waiting to board commercial bus which may have been trapped in the frenzy that greeted the petrol subsidy removal.

Few of the buses that were on the road for business hiked the fares between 50 and 100 per cent over fear of impending scarcity.
One of the motorists, wearing a long face, who spoke with this reporter at one of the fuel stations selling petrol, lamented, “Why would Tinubu start on this note to punish the already depressed, impoverished Nigerians inflicted by the out-gone administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is absolutely unfair to Nigerians. When I heard that Tinubu has directed the removal of oil subsidy, I had to rush down here to fill my tank and some jerry cans for my power generating set.”

Also, Mr John Akinloye, a motorist along the Agege area, said, “I was not surprised to see queues at the fuel stations after the announcement. I just pray this sad and unfortunate development will not last so as not to put suffering masses in another round of economic and mental torture.

“I have been at the fuel station for over an hour, and am yet to get to the fuel pump point. Even the fuel attendants are not willing to sell more than N3,000 per buyer. If you want to buy N4,000 they are refusing.”

At Conoil and Adova Petroleum stations located in Karu area of the nation’s capital, long queues were observed with stations selling at N195 per litre.

At petrol stations operated by independent marketers, pump price was hiked to between N315 and N370 per litre with the topmost price range recorded in other parts of the country outside Lagos and Abuja.

The situation, it was gathered might worsen in the coming days as workers and business owners return to work today after the holiday declared for the inauguration of the new president.

Meanwhile, most stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard on the development believed that the subsidy removal was a right step.


Fuel subsidy removal , long overdue — MD, 11 Plc

Immediate past chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, who doubles as the Managing Director, 11PLC, Adetunji Oyebanji, said: “This is a welcome development. The country is bleeding every day and we are getting to a stage where if we are not careful all our revenue will be going into world-serving debt and going into the subsidy, which means we have no money left to do any other thing to pay salaries.

“The people kicking against this interest will end up suffering even more. The amount of money spent on this subsidy has been documented in so many different foray, different places, people have talked about it over the years and to make matters worse a lot of it is going towards subsiding other companies in Africa, hence it has to go.”

Oyebanji, who noted that the fuel subsidy removal was long overdue, said: “I have been an advocate of the removal of fuel subsidy because it is not benefiting the ordinary man but rather the elite who drive cars. So, I was pleased with the planned removal.”


We cannot borrow to pay fuel subsidy — EnergyHub

Similarly, the Lead Promoter, EnergyHub Nigeria, Prof. Felix Amieyeofori, said: “This is a welcome development for the oil and gas industry. We support it because it is only benefiting the elites. Government should direct the subsidy to other strategic economic programmes. We cannot borrow to pay subsidy.”


Fuel subsidy, cheap way of making money — OGSPAN

But National President, Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mazi Colman Obasi, who described fuel subsidy as a cheap way of making money, said: “We have heard that before. It is said that’s easier said than done. Anything that would remove cheap money can be resisted. Fuel subsidy is one of such cheap monies. I have read the speech it sounds nice. I cannot remember the last inaugural presidential speech that the promises and hopes were implemented the way it was spoken in the history of Nigeria. Let us wait and see.”

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, in Abuja, took the oaths of office and allegiance as the 16th President of Nigeria with a vow that the country would not break up.

Tinubu in his inaugural address at Eagle Square also unveiled a series of steps he would take to position the country on the path of economic development, stability and prosperity.

Shortly after his inauguration, the President met with envoys from the United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Cape Verde, Somalia and Nicaragua at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The diplomats presented their goodwill messages and letters of support and solidarity to Tinubu.

Dressed in white agbada and buba with a green cap adorned with his trademark logo, the oaths were administered on the new President and the Vice President, Kashim Shettima by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as former president Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha as well Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the new president, and other family members watched in admiration.

Several African heads of state, diplomats and representatives of foreign governments also witnessed the colourful ceremony which featured a march past by the armed forces as well as dances and other performances by the National Troupe.

African leaders present

African leaders who graced the inauguration included President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Tanzania, Samia Hassan; President of the Republic of Congo Brazzaville, Denis Nguesso, President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Embaló and his Liberian counterpart, George Weah.

Also present were the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye; the Transitional President of Chad, Mahamat Déby; the President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum; and President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana.

Delegations from Sierra Leonean and Qatar were also present. The Qatari team was led by the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Representatives of the governments of the US, UK, Canada, India and others also attended the event.

Also in attendance were former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, serving and former governors, traditional and religious leaders, captains of industry and members of the diplomatic corps among others.

After handing over the reins of power to his successor, former president Muhammadu Buhari was driven in a black SUV to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and flown in a Nigerian Air Force plane alongside his family to his hometown, Daura.

Addressing Nigerians shortly after taking over power, Tinubu urged his compatriots not to allow the opportunity for greater development of the country to slip away.

He stated, “Our constitution and laws give us a nation on paper. We must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding. Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity.

“The South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests are served when good comes to the North. The North must see the South likewise.’

“Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people. As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all,” the President promised.

He said in its over 60-year history, Nigeria had endured hardships that would have made other societies crumble, but for its resilience and strength of its diversity, the country has remained intact.

“To the surprise of many but not to ourselves, we have more firmly established this land as a democracy in both word and deed.”

He said instead of disintegrating, Nigeria had continued to exist “as Africa’s most populous nation and as the best hope and strongest champion of the black race. “

Saying Nigerians were determined to keep the country united, Tinubu stated, “ As citizens, we declare as one unified people devoted to one unified national cause, that as long as this world exists, Nigeria shall exist. “

Speaking on the transition, Tinubu noted, “This handover symbolises our trust in God, our enduring faith in representative governance and our belief in our ability to reshape this nation into the society it was always meant to be.”

To advance the common vision of a better Nigeria, the President solicited the support of all Nigerians “to join me in making Nigeria a more perfect nation and democracy such that the Nigerian ideal becomes and forever remains the Nigerian reality.”

The president explained that though he fought hard to win the February 2023 election, the victory does not make him any more Nigerian than his opponents, who he pledged to relate to as compatriots.

“The outcome reflected the will of the people. However, my victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.

“They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore,” he affirmed.

He described the election that brought him to power as tough but fairly won and dedicated his victory to the country with a promise to do his best to advance its progress.

Economic policy

On the economy, the President said his administration would target a higher GDP growth and significantly reduce unemployment.

He promised to offer budgetary reform that would stimulate the economy without engendering inflation.

“Second, industrial policy will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.

“Third, electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well,’’ he maintained.

According to him, his administration would review all complaints by investors about multiple taxations and “various anti-investment inhibitions. We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard-earned dividends and profits home.”

He also mentioned his plan to make security a priority ‘’because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.”

To tackle unemployment, Tinubu reiterated the imperative of creating “meaningful opportunities for our youths”, as he pledged to honour his campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.

Fight corruption, improve athletes welfare, stakeholders tell Tinubu
“Our government also shall work with the National Assembly to fashion an omnibus jobs and prosperity bill. This bill will give our administration the policy space to embark on labour-intensive infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly and vulnerable,” he projected.

He revealed that rural incomes shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products even as he will undertake a nationwide programme for storage and other facilities to reduce spoilage.

Tinubu promised to create agricultural hubs nationwide to increase production and engage in value-added processing.

Also, the livestock sector will be introduced to the best modern practices and steps taken to minimize the perennial conflict over land and water resources in this sector.

“Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less,” he noted.

The President commended the decision of the Buhari administration to phase out fuel subsidy which he said would save the country at a time of drying resources.

He noted, “We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.”

He explained that the nation’s monetary policy needs thorough house cleaning as he charged the Central Bank of Nigeria to work towards a unified exchange rate.

This, he said, would direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy.

Tinubu said his administration would treat both new and old naira notes as legal tender, saying despite its intended merits, the controversial currency swap policy of the CBN “was too harshly applied given the number of unbanked Nigerians.”

He explained that his primary foreign policy objective must be the peace and stability of the West African sub-region and the African continent, promising to work with the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and willing partners in the international community to end conflicts and to resolve new ones.

“As such, my primary foreign policy objective must be the peace and stability of the West African sub-region and the African continent. We shall work with ECOWAS, the AU and willing partners in the international community to end extant conflicts and resolve new ones.

“As we contain threats to peace, we shall also retool our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental quest for collective prosperity,” he assured.

Describing Monday’s inauguration as the “proudest day of my life” Tinubu promised to “govern” and never “rule” Nigerians.

“Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate.’’

Envoys meet with Tinubu

Several countries on Monday formally presented their goodwill messages and letters of support and solidarity to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The letters were presented to the president by the special envoys and heads of missions of the countries after his inauguration as the 16th President of Nigeria.

Among the countries are the United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Cape Verde, Somalia and Nicaragua.

While congratulating Tinubu, the new UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, presented letters from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

The US delegation led by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge, paid a courtesy call to Tinubu and had a brief bilateral discussion with him.

A statement by the media aide to the President, Tunde Rahman, disclosed that the South Korean delegation had bilateral discussions with Tinubu.

While delivering a letter of invitation from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for Tinubu to visit that country soon, the delegation also sought to increase relations between the two countries.

The Saudi Arabian delegation similarly delivered a goodwill message from the Saudi Royal House to the Nigerian president.

A special envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida equally paid a call on the President and extended a hand of support and fellowship.

The statement read, ‘’In the same vein, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation which met with Tinubu and expressed willingness to work with the country in the area of fintech.

‘’Others, who met with President Tinubu and pledged cooperation with Nigeria, included delegations from Brazil, Somali, Cape Verde and Nicaragua.’’

Biden pledges support

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has pledged his commitment towards working with Tinubu to strengthen ties between his country and Nigeria.

Biden stated this in a statement shortly after Tinubu’s inauguration on Monday.

Biden said the US would continue to work closely with Nigeria to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous future for the world, noting that ‘’Nigeria’s success is the world’s success.’’

The statement read, “On behalf of the people of the United States, I send warm wishes to the government and people of Nigeria as they inaugurate a new President.

“My administration has worked to strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria, and I look forward to continuing this work with President Tinubu to support economic growth, advance security, and promote respect for human rights.

“The people-to-people connections between our two countries run particularly deep, nurtured by a vibrant Nigerian Diaspora in the United States.

“As we further deepen our partnership with Nigeria, I look forward to drawing even more on the ideas and energy of this dynamic connection between our countries. ‘’

Biden further stated, “As Africa’s largest democracy and economy, Nigeria’s success is the world’s success. Elected leaders owe it to their people to show that democracy can deliver for their needs.

‘’And the United States will continue to work closely with Nigeria, as a friend and partner, to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous future for our world.

“We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own. We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it"

They even placed an armoured tank just to scare us away," one EFCC official told this newspaper.

Officials of the State Security Service (SSS) Tuesday morning prevented officials of the anti-graft agency, EFCC, from gaining access to their office in Ikoyi, Lagos.

As of the time of this report, all the EFCC officials at the office in Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, were prevented from accessing the building by SSS officials, [/b]PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

“They even placed an armoured tank just to scare us away,” one EFCC official told this newspaper.

[b]Sources in both agencies said there has been an ongoing rivalry between both agencies over the ownership of the building.

The Oyo state police command has arrested five members of the Yoruba Nation agitators who allegedly invaded and hijacked a government owned radio station in Ibadan.

The Oyo state commissioner of police Adebowale Williams while parading the attackers in Ibadan revealed that the attackers forcefully hijacked the said Broadcast Station, Amuludun 99.1 FM with the intent to declare liberation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said in a swift response, officers of the Oyo police were able to take control of the situation and arrested the invaders.

While declaring the act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of terrorism which would be meted with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, the CP assured residents of the State that investigations are ongoing to demystify those others who are involved in the act.

Press Statement

Security Council declares phone snatching act of armed robbery in Kano

Kano state Security Council has declared phone snatching as an armed robbery and any individual or group caught in the act will be treated as such.

The outgoing commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano.

He said the council, which was presided over by the outgoing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje during it’s valedictory session, noted that perpetration of the act in recent times has reached a worrisome proportion and therefore needs drastic measures.

Malam Garba also stated that the council has agreed to put in place a special squad within the security system to deal with the menace and other acts of criminality in the state.

The commissioner added that the council while deliberating on the swearing in of the new governor said that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure peaceful ceremonies and warned that miscreants who might use the occasion to cause violence in the name of celebrations to refrain from such act.

"Destruction of properties belonging to the public, individual or the opposition will not be tolerated as adequate measures have been taken to deal with such act decisively," the statement added.

He said during the meeting, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje reiterated the need for a smooth transition of power in the state, and called for a peaceful ceremony. He thank the security agencies in the state for all the cooperation extended to him throughout his tenure and urged them to maintain the tempo.

The meeting was attended by virtually all the heads of the security agencies and other members of the council.

MALAM MUHAMMAD GARBA
Outgoing Commissioner for Information & Internal Affairs, Kano state
May 28, 2023

Mr Abubakar urged northerners to trust him with their votes because he is one of them and therefore the most qualified to be president.

“I have traversed the whole of this country,” he said.

“I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.”

He added that “this is what northerners need. He (northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs.

“I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”

‘Nothing wrong with campaigning along the religious line’

Amid the controversy over Peter Obi’s telephone conversation with Mr Oyedepo, a chieftain of the Labour Party and a professor, Pat Utomi, said there was nothing wrong with campaigning along religious lines.

He said elsewhere, political parties are sometimes established to appeal to the interests of the people of a certain religion. Mr Utomi said this in a short interview with the African Independent Television (AIT).

He further argued that every politician appeals to religious sentiments, stating that no politician seeking power has not gone to religious leaders for endorsements.

Breaching the 2022 Electoral Act, risking jail terms

But contrary to Mr Utomi’s claims, campaigning along ethnic, sectional and religious lines is a clear contravention of Nigeria’s electoral law and violators can be jailed if prosecuted.

According to section 92(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, “places designated for religious worship, police stations, and public offices shall not be used for political campaigns, rallies, and processions; or to promote, propagate, or attack political parties, candidates, or their programmes, or ideologies.”

Again, Section 97 of the same law forbids campaigns based on religion or tribe, stating that “any candidate, person or association that engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason to promote or oppose a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction — (a) to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both; and (b) in the case of a political party, to a maximum fine of N10,000,000.”

When campaigns were about to kick off in 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned candidates seeking offices to avoid campaigns in religious spaces or colouring their electioneering with inter-faith division.

Reading out sections of the Electoral Act, Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner in charge of publicity, said offenders risked imprisonment. Mr Okoye noted that the Act already has provisions for sanctions for violators, urging parties and candidates to adhere to the law and prioritise it.

It remains to be seen if INEC would be able to muscle the necessary political will to prosecute Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, and Peter Obi for violating the Electoral Act in their campaigns.

President Muhammadu Buhari says he closed the country’s land borders to encourage Nigerians to produce food for their consumption.

He said although the move was initially criticised, Nigerians eventually appreciated it.

Buhari spoke on Tuesday while inaugurating the new customs headquarters that reportedly cost N19.6 billion to construct.

The edifice is located in the Maitama district of the federal capital territory (FCT).

“Please note that from Lake Chad to Benin Republic is more than 1,600 kilometres, only God can effectively guard the borders. So you need a person who has the energy and the competence to supervise. I deliberately closed the borders because knowing Nigerians, they order rice, give some to Niger and the rest, and then they bring the rice here,” he said.

“With our potential, we have people, we have land, and weather – how many nations are as lucky as Nigeria in the world, very few nations.

“So closing that border, 1,600 kilometres, Nigerians insist they eat boiled rice – you eat what you grow or you die. I tried to make my point and later Nigerians appreciated it.”

Buhari said he nominated Hameed Ali as comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) because of his experience and competence.

The president said the late Sani Abacha, a former military head of state, gave Ali “problematic” tasks to accomplish.

“As for Hameed Ali, I asked him to be in charge of customs. No matter what people say about the late Sani Abacha, may his soul rest in peace,” he said.

“I knew him very well, when somehow he became president of this country, head of state, the biggest problematic area was around Kaduna. He picked Colonel Hameed Ali and dumped the problems on him. My decision for Hameed Ali to come to customs was a deliberate one.

“[I brought] Colonel Hameed Ali to ensure that I have peace of mind.”

On his part, Ali said the increase in the salaries of customs personnel has made them less susceptible to corruption.

“We must mention the game-changing intervention of Mr President to rid the NCS of corruption and put it on a path of integrity,” the comptroller-general said.

“The 100 percent increase in the remuneration for officers and men of the service decisively made them less susceptible to corruption.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday warned against reprisal attacks over the continued killings in Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

According to CAN, about 130 persons have been killed in the past week, 1,000 buildings burnt and 22 villages affected.

The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who gave the warning in a statement in Abuja, said: “It is with deep concern that I address the nation on the recent resurgence of mindless killings of innocent citizens in Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria.

“The killings, which started in Mangu villages on Monday, May 15, 2023, by so-called unknown gunmen have claimed many lives and property with many persons still missing.

“The villages affected include Fungzai, Hale, Kubwat, Bwoi and many other communities of the Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area and some communities in the Riyom Local Government Area.

“According to reports, about 130 people were killed, about 1,000 buildings burnt and about 22 villages affected. We condemn these barbaric acts in the strongest terms possible. It is disheartening to see innocent citizens being killed and their properties destroyed in such a gruesome manner.

“While we appreciate the efforts of the security forces to maintain peace, we call on the government and law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice and to ensure the protection of lives and property of all citizens.

“As a religious leader, I implore all parties involved to embrace peace and dialogue as a means of resolving their differences.

Violence only begets more violence and we must break this cycle if we are to build a peaceful and prosperous society.”

4 killed in Sunday night attack

Meanwhile, four men were on Sunday night shot and killed at the Daika town, Panyam district of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Although no security agency confirmed the development as the Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not pick his call at press time, a resident, Manasseh Bamshak, said the incident happened at 11p.m.

It will be recalled that following repeated attacks in many communities in the council, residents have been making efforts to protect their homes as they keep vigil to prevent further killings.

He said: “Four young men were shot and killed in front of their homes about 11p.m., on Sunday, at Daika town. Some Fulani militias were passing on a motorbike on the Mangu-Panyam Road and they opened fire and killed them. Among those killed were Musa Dapada and three others.”

Natives chide MACBAN for distorting facts

Meanwhile, Director of Public Affairs, Mwaghavul Development Association, MDA, Da Lawrence Kyarshik has chided the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, over its position on the ongoing attacks in Mwaghavul land.

MDA is the umbrella body for the indigenous tribe of Mangu council.

Kyarshik, while reacting to MACBAN’s letter to governments and security agencies, alleging a “genocidal mission against Fulani communities in Plateau State,” said the said letter was “the clear intention of the leadership of MACBAN to mischievously delude the general public in order to cover up their sustained genocidal atrocities against the peace-loving ethnic nationalities on the Plateau.

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded to MACBAN’s letter because it is an unintelligent mumbling, and more importantly, because we are still mourning the loss of our loved ones in the most planned and coordinated genocidal attacks on the Mwaghavul nation by Fulani terrorist herdsmen, obviously led by MACBAN.

“However, due to the deliberate false allegations raised in the letter against the Mwaghavul nation and the clear intention of the leadership of MACBAN to mischievously delude the general public in order to cover up their sustained genocidal atrocities against the peace-loving ethnic nationalities on the Plateau, especially the one they are currently executing against the Mwaghavul nation, it is crucially important to respond to it, in order to correctly contextualize the issues.

“We find it laughable that MACBAN falsely claimed that the Mwaghavul nation plans a genocidal mission against the Fulani in Mwaghavul land. For the avoidance of doubt, the Mwaghavul people are one of the most peaceful people throughout the country and are known to have accepted and peacefully hosted other ethnic groups, including the Fulani.

“They should be burying their heads in shame, for the deep pains they have inflicted on a peaceful nation, rather than deliberately distorting facts, in a desperate effort to cover up their atrocities.”

He noted that the majority of crimes, including kidnapping and armed robbery being perpetrated in Mangu council were done by criminally-minded herders and urged MACBAN to “stop playing the victim when it is in the public domain that they are the aggressors.”

Below is the Official Program of Events lined up for the #Presidentialinauguration2023 as presented by the Presidential Transition Council today 18th May, 2023.

A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday granted an application for extension of remand of afrobeat singer Seun Kuti for additional four days.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun, extended Kuti’s remand until May 22.

Mr Simon Lough (SAN), who led a police legal team to the court, had moved the application.

According to him, the extension is to allow further investigation into the case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kuti is charged with assaulting a police officer.

He allegedly committed the offence on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State.

The police charged him with slapping an inspector after driving dangerously on the bridge
and deliberately blocking a moving police vehicle.

Kuti was arraigned on Tuesday during which the chief magistrate ordered his remand for 48 hours.

She, however, held that the defendant should be admitted to bail in the sum of one million Naira with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand.

She said that one of the sureties must be a landlord within the jurisdiction of the court.

She had adjourned the case until May 22 for mention and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.

"Somewhere in Ogombo yesterday, she assaulted a police officer. She was arraigned today and has been remanded to the Kirikiri correctional facility till June 6 when the case come up again in court."

The Federal Government has said that the present education backwardness being witnessed in the northern part of the country was caused by people of the region.


The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu made the assertion during a public presentation of Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) Book 1 series for Nigerian universities in the nation’s capital.

Adamu, who commended the National Universities Commission, NUC for its drive in making sure that more private universities spring up in Nigeria, said the effort is paying off in the northern part of the country.


“The North is in self-imposed educational backwardness because the interest of the North is Islam, and Islam is the greatest promulgator of knowledge.

“In 859 AD, one Fatima Al-Fihri (sic), a woman-Muslim woman established the first university in the world, at the time, the Italian universities, Oxford, Cambridge universities had not started, the first university was still existing there, it is now in Morocco.


“And about 100 years after that one, another university was established, the second university in the world before the universities of Europe, in Cairo and just like the first one, this university was established by a Muslim woman, Fatimatu Zahara (sic).

“So the first two universities in the world were established by Muslim women and here people are using Islam to keep women at home. I think it does not make sense,” the minister said.

SAD NEWS!

Over 40 person’s are confirmed k!lled by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State between yesterday and today.

May their soul rest in peace!🕊️💔😥

Pateau attack: Police confirm incident, keep mum on casualty figure

Despite reports from Mangu LGA of Plateau State that 30 people lost their lives in an attack by yet-to-be identified assailants in Bwoi District of the LGA, the police are yet to come out with figure of victims.

DAILY POST gathered from sources in Mangu LGA that the victims of the aforementioned incident were mostly women and children.

The Plateau State Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, while confirming that there was an attack in the area, said, “The Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, Bartholomew Onyeka has expressed his sadness to the good people of Plateau State on the unfortunate incident that took place in Bwoi District of Mangu LGA, which has claimed the lives of yet to be identified persons from various villages within the area.

According to him, “On 15th May, 2023, at about 11:56 hours, a distress call was received from one of our Police officers in charge of Tanknale village of Mangu LGA that some unknown gunmen are shooting sporadically in a nearby village.

“Upon receipt of this information, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, Bartolomew Onyeka immediately mobilised all Command assets to the scene to ensure that the suspects are arrested and brought to book.

“Further information from the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, ACP Bawa Sale, who was also present at the scene, reveals that with help from other security agencies in the command, a very hot chase was given to the hoodlums.

“Due to our heavy firepower, the hoodlums abandoned about four motorcycles which are presently in the custody of the STF and one Sharon vehicle with Plateau State registration number (MGU 988 HK ) and some items used for their nefarious activities”, he explained.

"As we speak, the culprits are on the run while our officers are still on their trail with the aim to ensure that they are neutralized and if possible, arrested.

“The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, assures the good people of Plateau State that all necessary measures are being put in place to ensure peace and forestall any future occurrence of such inhuman acts.”

The CP also urges the residents of the State to continue to offer the Police all necessary intelligence as doing so will go a long way to help the Police in investigation.

"Further developments concerning the incident will be communicated to you in due course”, he assured.

New Zealand authorities said Tuesday that multiple people have died after a fire broke out overnight at a four-story hostel in the capital, Wellington.

Emergency services were called to the Loafers Lodge hostel about 12:30 a.m.

Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt said 52 people have been accounted for, but that a number still remained unaccounted for.

“I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident. Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those (they could) and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t,” Pyatt told reporters.

“This is our worst nightmare,” Pyatt said. “It doesn’t get worse than this.”

Police can confirm a number of fatalities following the fire in central Wellington this morning.

Officers remain at the scene at Loafers Lodge on Adelaide Road where fire broke out around 12:30am.

Our initial assessment is that the number of deceased is fewer than 10, however, we are not in a position to be any more specific until we can access the building. It is currently unsafe and until we can access the building - and reconcile numbers of people who are safe - we are not in a position to determine how many people are deceased or unaccounted for. Our focus is on identifying those people as soon as we can.

We are asking people to please come forward if they, or someone they know, has been staying at the property, so we can eliminate them from our inquiries.

At the stage the cause of the fire is unexplained, and Police will be working alongside FENZ to determine cause.

Adelaide Road between John Street and the Basin Reserve is expected to remain closed for much of the day while Fire and Emergency NZ work at the scene alongside Police.

EFCC Cadet Beaten To Death By Superior Officers For Refusing To Engage In Corruption, Buried Amid Tears As His Killers Roam Free

Abel Isah, a cadet in the Sokoto Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who was recently beaten to death by superior officers, has been buried.

Isah was beaten to death by his superior officers for refusing to sign off on incomplete exhibits handed over to him.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that two of Isah’s superior officers were angered by his refusal to be part of the illegality and therefore heavily descended on him.

Sadly, Isah, who hailed from Plateau State, was subsequently beaten to death by the superior officers.

SaharaReporters learnt on Sunday that the deceased had however been buried amid tears, in the presence of his family, friends and other loved ones.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Isah would be buried on Saturday.

“The EFCC officer who was beaten to death by his superiors has been buried,” a source said on Sunday.

It was also learnt that the atmosphere was gloomy as Isah remains were lowered to the ground while the air was filled with pain and anguish, especially as his killers had not been brought to justice.

“The EFCC cadet was killed in Sokoto. The cadet was beaten to death by his seniors at the zonal headquarters for refusing to sign off on incomplete exhibits handed over to him,” a source had told SaharaReporters.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that the two officers who beat Isah to death were quietly dismissed.

But many of Isah’s colleagues had grumbled that the punishment for murder or manslaughter should be stiffer than mere dismissal.

“The two senior officers who killed the cadet have been dismissed but many people, including Isah’s colleagues, are grumbling that the dismissal is not adequate punishment since it is a case of clear murder,” the source had said.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwajaren on Sunday for an update were not successful as his mobile lines were switched off.

"A thirteen year old boy has committed suicide by hanging in Ntantalla, Ndu this Sunday May 7. Sources say the tragedy began on Saturday with an allegation that he stole a phone from a passenger he transported on a motorcycle, allegation to which he refuted. He attempted stabbing himself but was cautioned out of it. It is today morning that he decided to take away his life by hanging. His lifeless body was discovered hanging from a tree after his absence was noticed. Considering his tender age, many are wondering whether the allegation could actually push him to take away his life. However, answers unfortunately cannot be gotten as the concerned is no.”

Three police officers were, on Thursday, killed when gunmen attacked their checkpoint in Umunze, a community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria’s south-east.

The incident happened early in the morning, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the checkpoint along Umunze-Ihite Road in the community and opened fire on the officers, killing three of them on the spot.

Residents said some shop owners near the scene of the attack abruptly closed their shops for fear of being caught by stray bullets.

A video clip, apparently shot after the incident, has been circulating on various WhatsApp groups.

In the now viral clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, three bodies of the slain officers were seen lying along the road close to the checkpoint.

The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement, Thursday evening.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, described the killing of the officers as “unfortunate.”

“It is part of the highest prices security officers pay in serving the nation,” he said.

He, however, said the police in the state were not “deterred” by the development.

“The reinforcement teams are already in the area and the manhunt for the assailants is ongoing while joint security patrols have been intensified in the area,” the police spokesperson stated.

Increased attacks
Like other states in Nigeria’s south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

The latest attack comes days after gunmen abducted an unidentified man at Afor Market Junction along Nnobi Road in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria.

Four people were killed Thursday in a small city in rural south Georgia, including a fast food worker and two relatives of a gunman who took his own life, the local coroner said.

The shooter killed his mother and grandmother at two neighboring homes and killed a woman at a McDonald’s restaurant in downtown Moultrie, Colquitt County Coroner C. Verlyn Brock told The Associated Press. He said the gunman then killed himself.

Brock did not provide the identities of the shooter or victims. He said he did not know whether the gunman and the McDonald’s worker knew each other.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement only that there had been “multiple fatalities” at different crime scenes in the area.

Police swarmed the restaurant on Thursday morning, shutting down traffic on one the main streets in the south Georgia town of 15,000.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the Moultrie Police Department requested its assistance.

“We are working to learn more information and track down some additional witnesses,” GBI Special Agent in Charge Jamy Steinberg said.

Moultrie is about 60 miles (95 kilometers) northeast of Tallahassee, Florida.

Many people were feared dead and others injured when a truck laden with cement crushed two commercial buses at Upper Iweka in Onitsha, AnambraState, NaijaCover Reports.

It was gathered that the truck lost control at the ever busy and accident prone area of Asaba park on Wednesday, May 3, and crushed two commercial vehicles loading passengers along the expressway.

Eyewitness said that the casualties could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, but noted that many people lost their lives while many others who sustained various degrees of injury were rushed to Toronto hospital for treatment.

“We saw the truck coming with speed and suspected that it might have lost control and ran for our dear lives before we knew what was happening, it crushed two passenger buses loading along the road killing some people and injuring others,” the witness narrated.

"That spot has been an accident prone area where many accidents had happened in the past claiming many lives. It is based on the frequent accidents at the spot that made the state government to put signs of ‘don’t load, no bus stop’. But some commercial drivers always ignored the instructions and signs and load passengers to Asaba and Bridgehead.

"I want the government to ensure strict monitoring and patrolling of the area by its Taskforce to arrest defaulting drivers and impound their vehicles to stop further loading at the place and to safeguard the lives of the passengers and passersby” he stated.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the accident said that police was yet to get the details of the accident and the number of casualties.

"He warned commercial bus drivers to load at designated parks and bus stops and cautioned truck drivers against overspeed and constant check and maintenance of their vehicles to reduce accident on the roads. 

Watch The Video As Obtained By NaijaCover Below:

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said on Tuesday that Noodles made in Nigeria are safe for consumption and have nothing to do with the noodles produced in Taiwan and Malaysia, IGBERETV reports.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye said this as a guest on a popular TV show, ’Your View’, aired on TVC television, and monitored by IGBERETV. 

Mojisola further added that “foreign noodles have been banned from entering the country by the Nigerian government many years ago and this is on the Nigerian Customs Service importation prohibition list and this is to encourage local production of noodles and backward integration of the economy.”

NAFDAC also said it is working to ensure that foreign-made noodles are not smuggled into the country. NAFDAC Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) organisation, has commenced post-marketing surveillance (PMS) and the Food Lab Services Directorate has also been activated on the issue.

According to the Group Corporate Communications and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju, said “Indomie Nigeria is different and a separate entity from Indomie Taiwan, and Indomie Malaysia. Indomie instant Noodles is locally produced in the country and operations have been ongoing for at least three decades. Dufil Prima has improved local capacity utilisation and has aided enhanced production to meet market demand, rather than depending on importation.”

The World Instant Noodles Association (WINA) says Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is currently among the largest consumers of instant noodles with 1.92 million servings as of May 2020.

The ban on the importation of instant noodles is not a recent development, as instant noodles have been on the importation prohibition list of the Federal Government for a long time.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Imo, Samuel Anyanwu, has vowed to scuttle Governor Hope Uzodinma’s re-election bid.

Anyanwu, incumbent PDP National Secretary, was formerly a local government chairman, House of Assembly member and Imo East Senator.

On Wednesday, his campaign’s Director of New Media, Dumebi Ifeanyichukwu, said the governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were nervous.


Ifeanyichukwu noted that Anyanwu would not join words with his opponents “who are afraid of their impending loss in November”.

“It is in the nature of losers to be jittery because the people of Imo have seen the light”, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Fifty-seven-year-old Anyanwu also decried the rising level of poverty, unemployment and insecurity “thriving” under the current administration.

“Hope Uzodinma and his government have impoverished the people and put them in perpetual poverty. Young people, talented and educated, have no job.

“Imo State is one of the most dreaded places in the country because of the heightened insecurity. This is the legacy of Uzodinma.”

The flagbearer said it is shameful that the same government, which should be seeking forgiveness from the people, wants power again.

Anyanwu warned the APC and its supporters to drop any plan “to rig and sponsor violence in November like they did across the country during the general elections”.

“Affliction shall never rise again. Our people will vote out APC and secure their votes from these election robbers”, the politician noted.

The PDP added that the mandate Uzodinma holds was given to him by the Supreme Court in 2019, recalling he had the least votes among the top contenders.

In February, ex-Cross River Governor, Donald Duke said the United States imposed a visa ban on the judges who made the candidate “who came fourth the winner of an election”.

President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to work evenly for the country without marginalising any part in areas of development.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who is due to be inaugurated as president on May 29, said this Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The president-elect is on a two-day visit to the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Nyesom Wike administration.

“I will not marginalise any region, but will leave legacy projects across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” he said at the opening of Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover Bridge.

Tinubu praised Governor Wike for the development strides in Rivers State, particularly for the 12 flyovers constructed across the capital city, saying posterity would kindly remember him.

He said with his accomplishments in the state, Nigeria would need the outgoing Rivers governor in higher capacities.

On the political front, Tinubu thanked Wike and the people of Rivers State for their support for him.

He said he was in the state in line with the promise he made during the campaigns in Rivers, saying “if you make a promise, you keep it.

“I will never forget the pivotal role the great and wonderful people of this state played in my victorious campaign to become the next president of this country. You have my eternal gratitude.

“In His Excellency, Governor Wike, I see a man of principle. He took a principled stand that the presidency should be retuned to the South; and he had the courage to stand by his convictions, not minding whose ox was gored.

“He is, indeed, a man of great integrity. He did not choose to serve his own interests, rather, the interests of the nation and the people of Rivers State. I thank him for his selfless leadership,” he added.

In his speech, Wike said the invitation for Tinubu to commission projects in the state was a fulfilment of promise made during the President-elect’s campaign visit to Rivers.

He expressed appreciation to Tinubu for agreeing to visit Rivers State and perform the commissioning.

Wike, who threw jibes at the leadership of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), applauded the election of Tinubu which, he said, had shamed naysayers.

The event was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).

Others were former governors Dr Peter Odili (Rivers), Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Chief James Ibori (Delta), Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chief Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and Chief Ayo Fayose (Ekiti).

Others in attendance include governor-elect of Rivers State, Mr Sim Fubara, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Mr Dele Alake and Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam, among others.

Office of the President-elect
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz
May 3, 2023

A woman identified as Fatima Rahman, has been arrested and arraigned before Magistrate P.E Nwaka at the Yaba Magistrate court, for allegedly stabbing her pregnant co-wife, Adiza, to death at her residence in Alejo Street, Ijede, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State on April 9, IGBERETV reports.

42-year-old Rahman who is said to be from Chad Republic, reportedly got angry after her husband picked Adiza as his second wife.

She allegedly visited the deceased in her residence under the guise of being a nurse and stabbed her to death. A neighbour of the deceased who saw Rahman when she arrived at the residence, was said to have indicted her after deep wounds were found on the deceased’s neck and head.

During her arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that Rahman committed the crime at about 12.40pm on the said day.

“That you, Fatima Abdul Rahman, on April 9, 2023, around 12.40 pm, at 43, Alero Street, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State in the Lagos Magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Adizat Abdul Rahman, 28-year-old, by stabbing her with a knife and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”

Rahman’s plea was not taken by the court. The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant to a custodial centre pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

Magistrate Nwaka granted the request and ordered that Rahman be remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending legal advice. Nwaka adjourned the case till May 25, 2023, for trial.

May Day: Gov Ikpeazu announces new Retirement Age and extension of years of service for Teachers in Abia.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has announced an extension of teachers’ retirement age and years of service by five years. He announced this during this years May Day celebration in Umuahia the state Capital.

The Governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah, said that the retirement age had been extended from 60 years to 65 years and years of service from 35 to 40 years and the implementation will take effect from Next week.

The Governor also announced a 2000 housing units scheme for them to meet their housing needs.

He assured that Government will set up a committee that will produce a salary scale for the new minimum wage.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has described as absurd the demands being made and the ultimatum issued by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to the Federal Government.

Ngige said the Government had given the doctors everything they wanted, adding that their sense of entitlement was “too much.”

NARD had on Saturday given the Federal Government two weeks to meet its demands or face industrial disharmony.

The doctors are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salaries of doctors.

The doctors also want the immediate withdrawal of the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services in Nigeria before being granted full licence to practise.

They also want the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act and review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done; among others.

But speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Ngige said the doctors’ demands were absurd, adding that they had the option of leaving the country.

The Minister said, “If the NARD, who we have been managing their matter…We are giving them everything they want, including their Medical Resident Training Fund; we are paying them, even when in training, paying them full salary, paying them all the allowances and you decided that we have not done enough. Like I said before, you have an option to go. It is left for the education ministry and the health ministry to fashion out what they can do.

“You asked that a bill by one of the members of the House of Representatives be removed and that is one of the reasons you want to go on strike. How can the government tell a member who has done a private member’s bill… It is not even an executive bill, you now release it as one of the conditions of going on strike; that is absurd!

“The entitlements syndrome, the sense of entitlement is too much in this country and like I said earlier, you obey the law you look odd, you apply the law, you look odd or you are a wicked man. I don’t have any apologies for whatever I have done in the management of trade disputes.”

But reacting to the minister’s statement, NARD said every association deserved the right to ask for a salary increment.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the Secretary-General of NARD, Dr Chikezie Kelechi, said, “We do not have an entitlement mentality and our demands are not absurd. Every association deserves the right to ask for an increment in salary.

“The Medical Residency Training Fund has been there and has been paid about three times now. It is paid once a year and it was approved in 2017 and did not take effect until about three years ago. Even those three years, every time it is paid, there is a threat of a strike. The government does not ordinarily want to pay and these monies are appropriated but there is this unwillingness to pay. Every year, there has to be a threat of strike for them to pay.

“We are tired of getting the Government to do what they are supposed to do naturally. The first round of update courses for the year has been done, the first round of exams for the year has been concluded and these monies were not paid. So, what is he saying?

“A fund has been provided in the budget but somebody is not willing to pay as and when due. It is not proper. When has demanding our rights become an entitlement mentality? When he said the government is providing everything we need, what exactly is being provided?

“The Consolidated Medical Salary Structure was approved in 2009 but did not take effect until 2014 and it was meant to be reviewed in five years but it started implementation in the next five years. We are in 2023, the salary structure has not been reviewed despite the inflation.”

Also, the President of the association, Emeka Orji, said doctors’ demands had been long overdue.

“We have not gone on strike for some time now because we are considering Nigerians but this particular ultimatum is about Nigerians and if you want to be sincere you will know that there is brain drain and it is affecting the functionality of our hospitals.

“People who visit public hospitals know that the quality of services has reduced, there is cancellation of surgeries and people are dying. We can’t wait until the system collapses, yet nobody has come out to address these issues or dispute it,”Orji said.

The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 1, as a public holiday to mark this year’s Workers Day celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

Aregbesola, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, on Friday, commended workers for their hard work, diligence and sacrifice, noting that their efforts are largely responsible for the greatness of the country and the respect Nigeria now commands in the comity of nations. 

The minister said, “There is dignity in labour, we have to have dedication and commitment to the work we do because it is vital to nation-building.”

He enjoined workers to imbibe the culture of productivity, saying “The end of work is productivity. It is productivity that leads to satisfactory provision of goods and services and wealth creation.

It is therefore the path to national and individual prosperity.”

The minister urges workers to raise the bar of their trade in line with the regime of President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd)’s drive to upgrade the vehicle of governance and make all the people of Nigeria derive maximum benefit from the nation.

The minister commended all security agencies for the successes recorded in the fight against criminals across the country, as he encouraged them not to relent but go all out to deter the criminals whenever they raised their heads.

A Couple and their son have died in a crash around Village 49, close to the Onipetesi end of the Sagamu Ore Expressway in Ondo State.

According to Punch, the man identified as Baba Dara, who was conveying his family members in a Sienna bus on Wednesday, April 26, was leading two other drivers driving separate vehicles to Abia State for a burial.

While en route to the destination, it was gathered that Baba Dara, who was in front of the other drivers, suddenly attempted to stop to avoid a pothole around Village 49, close to the Onipetesi end of the expressway, and in the process, the driver coming behind rammed into him, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and ran into the road divider.

An eyewitness, who gave his name only as Akindele, said the vehicle Baba Dara was driving tumbled after hitting the road divider, adding that the impact of the crash killed him alongside his wife and child.

“The accident happened around 10am when I was returning from Akure. and the crash killed three members of a family. From what I gathered, the accident happened when the man, whom we later got to know as Baba Dara, was conveying his wife, son and a relative in a Sienna bus while two other vehicles were coming behind them. They were all going for burial in Abia State,” he explained. 

"The other drivers drove a Sienna bus carrying pepper and drinks, and a Toyota SUV carrying yam and fruits including Banana, among others. Baba Dara was leading the two drivers behind when he suddenly matched the brake to avoid running a pothole around Village 49 and in the process, the driver driving the other Sienna bus behind him rammed into him and the driver driving the SUV also rammed into the Sienna bus.

Akindele said the impact of the collision made the first vehicle driven by Baba Dara ram into the road divider and it somersaulted, and started dragging on the floor for a short period till it turned back up.

"It was when the car turned back up that we realised that the head of the car had cut off and Baba Dara, his wife and son died on the spot,” the eyewitness said.

Akindele said while other victims who survived the crash were wailing over the tragic development, policemen attached to the Onipetesi Division, stormed the premises for an on-the-spot assessment of the case.

The Guardian || BBC New

In his reply to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s preliminary objection against his petition at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Court in Abuja, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused the electoral umpire for not maintaining neutrality in the case.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that INEC in its objection filed by A.B Mahmoud SAN, had disagreed with Obi’s assertion that the 2023 presidential election results ought to be transmitted electronically through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine to a public result viewing portal known as the IReV.

INEC had also countered Obi’s submission that Tinubu, having not scored 25% of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, does not qualify to be declared winner of the 2023 polls in line with Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution.

The section reads: “(1) A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected, where, there being only two candidates for the election – (a) he has the majority of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

In FCT, Obi scored 281,717 votes to defeat Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar who had 90,902 and 74,199 votes, respectively (less than 25%).

But INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, had told the court that “FCT has no special constitutional status over and above the other 36 states of the federation to require a candidate in the presidential election to obtain at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in the FCT before being declared winner of the presidential election.”

Meanwhile, the electoral umpire admitted that while it is true that collation officers are required to ascertain that the number of accredited voters match the number captured in the BVAS and that the votes of parties correspond with the result electronically transmitted directly from the polling units before collation of results, it’s collation officers are allowed by law to use INEC’s copy of the results from the polling unit in the event that no results have been electronically transmitted from a polling unit.

In his response before the court, Obi took a swipe at INEC, accusing it of forgetting its role as an impartial umpire.

“INEC, forgetting its role as an electoral umpire, gave a notice of preliminary objection to challenge the alleged incompetence of the petition.

“The global best practices for electoral umpires in national elections is that an electoral umpire must avoid creating the impression that it has no respect for neutrality in an electoral contest between candidates,” Obi’s reply stated.

Obi’s legal team further contended that previous rulings and decisions of the Court of Appeal repeatedly admonished INEC to remain neutral in electoral proceedings, adding that it amounts to “embarrassment” for INEC to “adorn the garb of a contestant” in an election it conducted.

In respect to INEC’s argument that 25% percent votes from FCT is not a requirement in 2023 presidential election, Obi’s team maintained that the electoral umpire’s contention is “not true” and that the 1999 constitution makes it mandatory.

Regarding the mode of collation and result declaration, Obi cited a Federal High Court judgement which held that the BVAS is “core” to the election.

“It is not true that INEC compared the results of the election with any hard copies and counter-part copies issued to Nigeria Police and the political party agents as claimed in paragraph 73 of the 1st Respondent’s (INEC) reply,” Obi’s team submitted.

The management of Godfrey Okoye University (GO-UNI), Enugu has banned the wearing of shorts by staff and students to work and lectures.

GO-UNI, an institution owned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, also stated that fixing fingernails, eyelashes, and other artificial materials on the body will no longer be allowed in the university.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Rev. Prof Christian Anieke, who made the announcement while addressing staff and students and its group of institutions warned the management would not tolerate staff or students who wear tights and other materials that expose the sensitive parts of their bodies, stressing that such acts distract other members of the university.

He made it clear only black and brown hair would be allowed on campus and gave the staff and students one month to adjust to the new rules or be disciplined.

The Vice-Chancellor announced henceforth, students will be expected to wear their faculty uniforms from Tuesdays to Fridays, pointing out that the directive follows the abuse of the approval for students to wear cultural attires on Fridays.

He said that the exchange of pornographic materials is taboo in the institutions

Anieke advised the staff of the group of institutions to be proactive and cover their lectures as the management would not have any excuse in case of disruption of the university’s academic programmes.

The VC warned final-year students against plagiarism, stressing that the university librarian had been directed to carry out plagiarism tests on all research works by the students and staff of the institutions.

Anieke asked the students to report any staff of the institutions who frustrate them in the completion of their projects.

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old lady, who sold her 18-month-old baby for the sum of N600,000 to enable her repay “an embarrassing” bank loan.
The lady, identified as Olaide Adekunle, allegedly travelled to Lagos State on March 15, 2023 where she started hawking sachet water for the possibility of raising enough money to offset the debt she was owing a microfinance bank.

LEADERSHIP gathered that when Olaide could not raise the desired fund, she opted to selling her baby, Moridiat Rasaq, to a yet-to-be identified woman without the consent of her husband.

The Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said Olaide was arrested following a report lodged with the police at the Sango Ota Divisional headquarters by her husband, Nureni Rasaq.

Oyeyemi explained that confessional statement obtained by the police from the suspect indicated that Olaide, while hawking sachet water in Lagos met a man who introduced her to the woman that eventually bought the child from her.

The PPRO, however, disclosed that the acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Babakura Muhammed, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and possible recovery of the baby

I encourage Nigerians to remain calm and steadfast in the journey to reclaiming their mandate of a New Nigeria. I will never give up on this journey until victory is achieved.

I never expected the journey to a New Nigeria to be an easy one. The forces, who had over the years, lived off the old order, are bound to fight back, as is being experienced now.

If they come at us through land, air and sea, we will respond to them through land, air and sea but, we will remain law abiding and will never give up on the nation. We are on the right path and we will remain committed to the course.

I reiterate my commitment to building a Nigeria that will be beneficial to every Nigerian. The struggle to reclaim this mandate is not about me as a person but, about millions of Nigerians who placed their trust in me through their votes.

The millions of Nigerians who voted for me did not just cast their votes but, they invested their hopes in me and they deserve justice. So, we must stay the course.

Beyond regaining our mandate, I am committed to lifting people out of poverty and I remain committed to transforming Nigeria starting from the North to every part of the nation.

There may be more mud slinging from those who are against the emergence of the New Nigeria but, I would never be deterred by the obstacles along the way to victory. I have always lived my life in the most law abiding manner.

Twelve people have been detained by police for questioning after a hospital fire in Beijing killed at least 29, most of them patients.

The fire, among the deadliest in recent years, broke out in Changfeng Hospital at about 13:00 local time on Tuesday.

Angry and concerned relatives rushed to the hospital hours later, only learning of the fire from local news reports.

"Seven or eight hours have passed and I didn’t even receive a call," one relative told China Youth Daily.

Many said they spent the night trying to locate loved ones. Those who were rescued have now been shifted to other hospitals for treatment.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, officials said a preliminary investigation showed that sparks generated during renovation works had ignited paint stored on site.

Among those detained are the director and deputy director of the hospital, as well as the head of the firm overseeing the renovation works.

India has overtaken China as the world’s most populous nation, according to United Nations data released Wednesday.

India’s population surpassed 1.4286 billion, slightly higher than China’s 1.4257 billion people, according to mid-2023 estimates by the UN’s World Population dashboard. China’s numbers do not include Hong Kong and Macau, Special Administrative Regions of China, and Taiwan, the data showed.

The burgeoning population will add urgency for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to create employment for the millions of people entering the workforce as the nation moves away from farm jobs. India, where half the population is under the age of 30, is set to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy in the coming years.

Asia’s third-largest economy is now home to nearly a fifth of humanity — greater than the entire population of Europe or Africa or the Americas. While this is also true for China for now, that’s expected to change as India’s population is forecast to keep ticking up and touch 1.668 billion by 2050 when China’s population is forecast to contract to about 1.317 billion. 

“India’s story is a powerful one. It is a story of progress in education, public health and sanitation, economic development as well as technological advancements,” said Andrea Wojnar, Representative United Nations Population Fund India and Country Director Bhutan on State of the World Population Report. 

India has outpaced China since 1974.

India seized the top spot as it added about 23 million babies in 2022, while China’s population started shrinking for first time in six decades with about 9.56 million newborns last year. 

“I want to tell you that population dividends don’t only depend on quantity but also on quality,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday in Beijing. “China’s population is over 1.4 billion. As Premier Li Qiang pointed out, our population dividend has not disappeared, our talent dividend is forming and the impetus for development is strong.”

Overall, the world’s population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, and the previous UN projections show it could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 from 8 billion last year and touch 9.7 billion in 2050, before peaking at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s and remaining there until 2100.

The UN estimates that more than half of the projected increase in the global population between 2022 and 2050 to be concentrated in just eight countries: the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.

The Governorship Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Adamawa State has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conclude the processes of the governorship election in the state without further delay.

The Council which led a protest to the state INEC office in Yola on Monday is insisting that the collation of results of the supplementary governorship election halted on Sunday be resumed immediately.

DAILY POST reports that the INEC headquarters in Abuja suspended the collation in Adamawa State on Sunday after its Resident Electoral Officer, Hudu Ari, announced a ‘winner’ of the election while collation was still ongoing.

Making the declaration Sunday morning while collation officers were waiting till 11 am to resume collation of results of the supplementary governorship election from the remaining 10 LGAs, Ari named the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, winner.

Before the announcement, Binani had been trailing the lead candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP who was leading the polls with a margin of over 30,000 votes Fintiri of the PDP had by Sunday morning polled a total of 425,816 votes after results had been collated from the first 10 LGAs where the supplementary election was conducted while Binani had received a total of 393,403 votes.

The headquarters of INEC reacted to Ari’s declaration by disowning the act and announcing the suspension of the collation exercise.

However, the PDP Council, during its protest match to the Yola INEC office Monday morning, said the time to resume the collation of results is now.

Deputy Chairman of the council, Mr Felix Tangwami, who spoke to newsmen at the gate of the INEC office, said the protest would continue till INEC heeds its call and announces the remaining results.

“INEC has the responsibility to conclude this election and prosecute those who are taking us back,” the PDP campaign official said, mentioning Ari as the INEC official who should not go unpunished.

Terrorists Using Local Language To Spread Propaganda On Facebook

Ansaru, a Nigeria-based terror group, has found ways to bypass the monitoring systems on Facebook, giving them the unrestricted freedom to gather and disinform audiences in order to look attractive to potential recruits.

Aliyu Dahiru
April 17, 2023

Members of an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group in Nigeria have been using social media to spread their jihadi propaganda, recruit members and gather sympathisers freely, going undetected by moderators. 

Terrorist group Ansaru found ways to bypass the weak human and automated monitoring systems on the platforms, despite social media companies’ efforts to remove terror-related content,HumAngle can exclusively reveal. 

By using local languages, they have enjoyed the freedom to gather audiences and create a false image of themselves in order to push themselves on potential recruits through propaganda messages reaching millions of young people.

Ansaru fits into the Facebook definition of a terror organisation, and the platform’s leaked internal documents published by The Intercept in 2021 show that Ansaru is on its watchlist of 1,050 terror organisations and violent non-state actors.

But by simply posting in Hausa Ansaru’s content has evaded detection by moderators. It has been observed on the platform for months, being seen by and possibly influencing thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of people. 

During a months-long investigation, HumAngle tracked 22 accounts linked to Ansaru, which have been used to spread Al-Qaeda propaganda and messages in Hausa. This highlights the ineffectiveness of social media platforms in removing terrorist content.

What constitutes a terror group, according to Facebook?

“Terrorist organisations and individuals, defined as a non-state actor that: Engages in, advocates or lends substantial support to purposive and planned acts of violence, which causes or attempts to cause death, injury or serious harm to civilians, or any other person not taking direct part in the hostilities in a situation of armed conflict, and/or significant damage to property linked to death, serious injury or serious harm to civilians, with the intent to coerce, intimidate and/or influence a civilian population, government or international organisation, in order to achieve a political, religious or ideological aim.”

The platform has also become a place where Ansaru Jihadists can announce the creation of their public and private Whatsapp and Telegram channels, where they share more violent content. 

They also use the platforms to initiate members by engaging them in Q&A sessions, filtering out undesirables, before passing successful applicants on to a hardcore jihadi group. 

And, where they suspect detection or fear that the accounts may be taken down, Ansaru members on social media announce backup accounts with similar or different names to continue spreading propaganda. This helps them in retaining their audience even after some of their profiles were deactivated. 

Despite having numerous accounts on various social media platforms such as Facebook and messaging apps such as Whatsapp and Telegram, Ansaru members’ social media usage has shown that they are less sophisticated in evading detection than Islamic State supporters, who communicate by sending encrypted messages on closed networks. 

They rely on the social media platforms’ poor detection mechanisms and remain active on them for a period of time. As soon as the established accounts are detected and removed, they are not prevented from creating multiple accounts. 

Primarily operating in the Northwest and North-central parts of the country, Ansaru members are known for their violent attacks on Nigerian forces and foreign elements, as well as their use of social media to promote their agenda. 

Ansaru, which broke away from the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram group in 2012, has been less violent compared to other jihadi factions in the country. It has, however, recently intensified efforts to spread propaganda and misinformation, exploiting the grievances of people in less secure areas. 

Ansaru members have established a small level of influence over remote rural communities in the Northwest and North-central, where they engage in door-to-door propaganda campaigns and seek to enforce their interpretation of Shari’a law. Residents of this area claim that Ansaru members preach anti-democracy sermons and coerce families into granting marriages to their daughters under threat of force, from where the women are taken to forest camps to become Jihadi brides. 

Linking jihad

There have also been some communications between Ansaru members and Jama’atu Nusratul Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), another Al-Qaeda affiliate mainly working in the Central Sahel, about how they can assist each other in linking jihad from Nigeria to Mali through training and operations as al-Qaeda’s attempt at global consolidation. 

On Facebook, they concentrate on spreading their message of hate, religious extremism, and other anti-democratic rhetoric. They do so by painting a fake picture of themselves and exploiting sentiments. 

One of the major accounts monitored by HumAngle, for example, called for a merger between them and Fulani herders who, according to the account, “are being marginalised in their country” and have to restore their “lost glory” through jihad. 

Ansaru’s engagement with the civilian population is unique compared to other local jihadi extremist groups. It aims for social acceptance as part of a long-term plan to wage total control through jihad. This was evident in a propaganda message the group uploaded to Facebook after the kidnapping of passengers onboard the Abuja-Kaduna train. 

The video, which remained on Facebook from June 2022 until early March 2023, showed armed Ansaru fighters distancing the group from the attack and claiming that they do not target civilians. The message also promoted their anti-democratic agenda and called for a “greater jihad” that doesn’t target other Muslim civilians.

Despite their violent and extremist ideology, their ability to use social media to great effect has drawn them closer to the people. 

To dodge detection, Ansaru members merge two languages, especially Arabic and Hausa. This is believed to confuse the monitoring system, giving them room to use words that are offensive and derogatory with impunity. 

Operations

Two of the accounts HumAngle tracked were influential, each boasting more than 4,000 friends and followers and posting an average of four times daily. 

The most prominent accounts in this class are Shirka Haram and Muwahid Muwaheed, who were found to be controlling other accounts and pages with similar names, disseminating similar terror propaganda. The accounts act as a semi-official propaganda wing of the Ansaru group.

The content of their messages is, however, less carefully designed and doesn’t show the technical sophistication of the Islamic State. 

The content and the central message of the accounts monitored ranged from takfir and anti-democracy messages to eulogies of Al-Qaeda leaders. Videos of Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram, and other extremist clerics were also used to justify extremism. 

The accounts often share each other’s posts and announce the creation of new accounts or close chat groups in fear that others might be taken down where more violent actions are discussed. 

These accounts often use pseudonyms and list Nigeria as their primary location. Still, they consider themselves part of a global jihad network. They call on others to join them in their mission and engage in debates with those who oppose them. 

Most of those who go against them are quietist Salafists who participate in democratic processes in Nigeria, believing that they can drive reforms through an approach they call “A Shiga A Gyara” (Let’s Change It Within). 

Quietist-Salafism was coined to distinguish other Salafis from the Salafi-Jihadists who actively engage in violent forms of political activism, to institute Shari’a law. 

Quietists’ political action may be not as spectacular or eye-catching, but their discourse is loud and radical. They see participation in the democratic system as a “necessary evil” so that the system can be dismantled.

Elections targeted

When the 2023 Nigerian general election was on the horizon, some accounts changed their focus to attacking democracy and called on Muslims to boycott the process. They argued that the situation in Nigeria could only be solved through violent jihad, not democratic elections. 

The accounts have also taken advantage of unrest in the country, such as when President Muhammadu Buhari was reportedly stoned in his home state of Katsina, to propagate their message and incite further chaos.

Within this chaos of messages and propaganda, some supporters of the Islamic State in Nigeria have also tried to indicate their presence by engaging in the same tactics as the Ansaru members. 

HumAngle has found recent posts by Islamic State supporters who share propaganda in English. One way the I.S.-affiliated accounts attempt to bypass detection is by blocking the group’s logo in the videos and pictures they upload. 

Language

All of the jihadi accounts connected to Ansaru that HumAngle monitored on Facebook use the Hausa language to spread their propaganda. They sometimes use Arabic, but none of the accounts was found using English as a medium of communication.

This may be a deliberate attempt to connect with the Hausa-speaking communities. It also serves to show that they aren’t foreigners and have a deeper knowledge of Arabic as the lingua franca of Islam, which would likely give them a form of legitimacy to speak on Islam. 

The use of Hausa on social media by Jihadists in Africa is steadily growing, with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) venturing into it and maximising their reach to target local audiences after becoming aware of the language and its potential impact in recruiting new members. 

Unlike ISWAP, which recently introduced Hausa as one of its official languages, most of the accounts monitored by HumAngle were not official Ansaru sources. Most of them are either members, sympathisers, or supporters, sometimes called “fanboy” accounts by analysts. 

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in Northern Nigeria and Ansaru Jihadists are part of thousands of Hausa speakers spreading propaganda in a language that goes undetected by the platform.

The terrorists are not only posting textual information, but they also post videos and photos designed to attract new recruits and spread their radical ideology.

Geographically, the use of Hausa on Facebook is primarily concentrated in the nations of Nigeria and Niger, where over 80 per cent of the users are located and where Boko Haram terrorists mostly operate.

Other countries with significant Hausa usage on Facebook include Cameroon and Chad, which also have jihadi extremist presence.

Most Hausa language users on Facebook are male and between the ages of 18 and 24, a demographic that’s being targeted by Boko Haram to populate its ranks of fighters. The use of the language, therefore, gives the terrorists a direct line of communication with their intended audience. 

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) recently found that extremist propaganda from al-Shabaab and the Islamic State in East Africa was also unchecked due to “language moderation blindspots”.

“Ultimately, al-Shabaab and Islamic State supporters are capitalising on ineffective moderation in East African languages to build out stronger and more resilient networks to polarise audiences and pollute the information landscape with extremist disinformation,” the institute noted in a study published last year.

The message

The type of information spread by Ansaru members on Facebook is often religious in nature. They don’t directly create disinformation but try to use videos and audio recordings out of context to justify their causes and misinform potential recruits. 

They also use religious rhetoric to justify violence and encourage others to join them. They spread false information about the government and its policies, which they use to stir up discontent and hatred.

For example, one of the accounts claimed that conventional schools in Nigeria teach that the origin of man is Panku, a primitive giant said to have carved out the planet. Although this is in Chinese Mythology, Nigerian schools don’t teach it as a doctrine but as a comparative study of myths and legends. 

The messages spread by Ansaru Jihadists on Facebook are often inflammatory and incite violence. They call for attacks on government officials, churches, and other targets they consider to be enemies of their cause. They also use inflammatory language to demonise certain religious groups. 

Ansaru’s propaganda messages portray the group as strong, powerful, and ready to defend Muslims, while attempting to discredit the Nigerian government as illegitimate and untrustworthy by showing contempt towards the democratic form of government and its leaders. 

Psychologists have found that Jihadi extremist propaganda has a powerful effect on individuals who are vulnerable to radicalisation. It can be particularly effective in creating a sense of belonging and purpose, as well as providing a sense of moral justification for extreme acts of violence. 

The Ansaru messages also attempt to portray the group as trustworthy, sincere, and truthful. This is likely an effort to appeal to potential supporters and gain legitimacy. 

In engaging with other Muslims and in order to silence critics, they unearth old videos of clerics who changed their views to support their extreme views on jihad. They do so by cutting long videos and spreading half-truths so as to misinform the public. 

Doing enough?

Facebook has been criticised for not doing enough to prevent the spread of terrorist propaganda messages on its platform. Despite the company’s claims that it is doing its best to remove such content, reports suggest that its efforts have been inadequate. 

Several videos, pictures, and messages promoting violence and extremism have been found on Facebook in Hausa. These messages have been shared by individuals from various countries, including Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. 

In response, the social media giant has said that it employed a combination of artificial intelligence and human monitors to identify and remove terror-related content.

“Our detection techniques include content matching, which allows us to identify copies of known bad material, and machine-learning classifiers that identify and examine a wide range of factors on a post and assess whether it’s likely to violate our policies,” the platform said in 2019. 

But the terror groups have found ways to beat this automated system. The human monitors also seem unable to keep up with the sheer volume of terror-related content posted on the platform. According to the company, in the third quarter of 2020, the number of terror-related posts increased by over 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

In the third quarter of 2022, the company said it had removed over 16 million posts of terror-related content. 

While working on this piece, HumAngle noticed that some of the accounts on Facebook had been removed in Feb. 2023. However, several other accounts have remained on the platform, although they are not as active as they used to be. 

The Ansaru Q&A WhatsApp group has also been banned. However, realising that Facebook was after them, the members announced that they were moving to Telegram, where they would announce new accounts and other information. 

HumAngle followed their Telegram channel and found them sharing terror content and forwarding messages from other Al-Qaeda affiliates while also discussing other issues related to their extremist religious views.

A pastor, Daniel Oluwafeyiropo commonly known as Bishop Feyi, was sent to prison on Monday by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday pending the time he fulfilled his bail conditions for allegedly raping two of his church members.

Justice Ramon Oshodi remanded the founder of the "I Reign Christian Ministry" in Kirikiri Correctional Centre until his bail conditions were met.

Oshodi set bail at N20 million with two sureties in the same amount.

He stated that one of the sureties must be the owner of a build-up property in Lagos State, with a value sufficient to cover the bail amount.

“The original document of the landed property must be submitted the chief registrar of Lagos State.

“The sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State,” he said.

The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court’s chief registrar and accelerated the case’s hearing.

Oshodi adjourned the case until May 9 for trial.

Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr Olukunle Oyewole, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms in his bail application dated April 10.

Oyewole argued that the defendant had been on administrative bail with the police since May 20, 2023, and had made himself available to them.

He said, “My lord, the defendant was not informed on the day the matter came up for the first time before this court.
“The defendant is a well-known religious leader and he has shown by his action that he will not jump bail.”

“The offence for which he is charged is a bailable offence and he has credible sureties that can stand for him,” he added.
Mr Babjide Boye, the state’s lead prosecution counsel, urged the court in his counter-affidavit dated April 14 to deny the defendant’s bail application, but left it up to the court’s discretion.

Boye, on the other hand, argued that the offense was serious and that the likelihood of conviction would put the defendant at risk of fleeing.

“There is also a possibility of the defendant interfering with the prosecution witnesses.

“He is a bishop of so many branches and if granted bail, he may use his position to influence the prosecution witnesses as he is regarded as a man of authority who has the possibility of committing the same crime.

“We urge the court to deny the defendant bail because he has failed to provide the court exceptional circumstances to grant him bail,” the prosecutor submitted.

Bishop Feyi had previously been charged with rape on two counts.

He, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defendant allegedly committed the offenses in June 2020 at Ikota Villa Estate in Lekki, Lagos, according to the prosecution.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence violated Sections 260 (2) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2015.

Men of Ogun state Police Command on Wednesday, April 12, successfully repelled an armed robbery gang that invaded a popular phone market in the Okelewo area of Abeokuta. 

The armed robbery gang numbering about eight, stormed the market popularly known as "TARMARC" at about 5:30 p.m, and started shooting sporadically and carting away expensive phones. 

A distress call was quickly made to the police at Ibara divisional headquarters. The DPO Ibara division, CSP Abayomi Adeniji, quickly mobilized his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of Amotekun corps and moved to the scene. 

On sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in gun battle, but due to the superior firepower of the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels.

However, they were hotly chased and with the assistance of the market men, one of the robbers later identified as Adeniji Sakiru, 32 years old, was apprehended.

Unfortunately, a trader in the market identified as Dayo Bankole, was shot by the robbers during the incident. He gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at General Hospital Ijaye Abeokuta.

Items recovered from the arrested robber include one double barrel locally made gun and assorted Criminal charms. 

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the outgoing Commissioner of Police now AIG, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspect be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation. 

‘’He equally ordered a massive manhunt for the remaining members of the gang with the view to bring them to justice. He therefore appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals, to inform the police if anybody with gunshot injury is seen in their area.’’ Oyeyemi Said.

’’Situation report on the collapsed building at 1st Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi 

Upon arrival of the LASEMA Response Team at the scene of the incident, a six storey building under construction was found to have collapsed. Information gathered revealed that the building collapsed as a result of a truck that ran into the building. 

Fortunately, no loss of life, however, efforts are ongoing to reconstruct the building to ground zero so as to forestall any secondary incident. 

Recovery operations ongoing."

Apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned last week’s reported attempt to arrest the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in London, the UK, as a move by political enemies.

Ohanaeze said any plot to embarrass and pull down Peter Obi, because he had decided to legally pursue the mandate believed to have been given him by Nigerians, will continue to fail.

Obi was said to have been interrogated at Heathrow Airport, London, on April 7, over his identity.

Obi disclosed this to longtime ally, Prof. Stella Okunna, who served under him in many capacities when he was the governor of Anambra State.

The sole aim of faking Obi’s identity was to use his name to commit crime in London and other parts of the world so as to get him implicated in dubious and criminal activities and rope him into any number of offences to get him out of the political space, Ohanaeze held.

In her account of what Obi told her, as narrated in her Facebook account, Prof. Okunna, in the piece she titled: “What Peter Obi is going through: does any human being deserve this type of shocking intimidation and emotional torture?”, narrates:

How it happened at Heathrow

“Today 11/04/2023, I was shocked beyond words to hear from His Excellency, Mr. Peter what he went through when his British Airways plane landed at Heathrow Airport, London, in the early morning of Friday 07/04/2023.

“He was talking to me at the official opening of the Specialist Hospital of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Sisters, Nkpor.

“He had arrived at the event after flying in from London, his presence heralded by the usual ‘ear-splitting’ ovation that accompanies him everywhere nowadays.

“As the ‘Most Outstanding Pillar of the Foundation/Hospital’, the Reverend Sisters were full of expectations that he would attend; so were we (members of the Governing Board of the IHM Sisters Healthcare System), although there was also anxiety about whether he would be able to make it, being outside Nigeria.

“I actually had no idea he had travelled out of the country, until the ovation over his presence in a London Church went viral on the Internet.

“I would never have imagined he would be able to go anywhere so soon after his energy-sapping marathon visits on 06/04 to Paul University, Regina Caeli Hospital and other health facilities, where he went about touching lives in his usual quiet philanthropic manner.

“His whirlwind activities that day in Anambra State and beyond were another eloquent testimony to Peter Obi’s incredible stamina and multi-tasking capacity.

“To be able to fly out of the country that night, made this capacity even more incredible.

“Landing in London, Peter Obi joined the usual queue to pass through Immigration, and that was when his ordeal began.

“He was stopped and questioned for a long time and subsequently handed a detention note and told to wait for further interrogation and investigation. This was terribly unusual for a man who had lived honourably in the UK for a long time.

“In the face of this harassment, some well-meaning Nigerians, knowing who he is, raised their voices in protest, demanding to know why he was being treated that way.

“Then came the shocking revelation by the Immigration Officer who told him that his identity ‘WAS DUPLICATED’. This revelation has definitely set off alarm bells.

“For people who are knowledgeable about such matters, this is a very dangerous development because the implication is that someone is impersonating Peter Obi.

“And that someone could implicate Obi in all manner of dubious and even criminal activities, and rope him into any number of offences; he could get Obi framed for one criminal act or another.

“The frightening scenario of what can happen is unimaginable!

“This is the height of it all for a man who has been under sundry intimidation and emotional torture: bugging of his phone and those of his wife and children; keeping him constantly under surveillance; calling him names; putting him under severe pressure to leave (run away from) the country; wrongly accusing him of negative things he knows absolutely nothing about etc.

“As he was telling me his ‘Heathrow tale of woe’ at Nkpor today, I could see a man who was in severe pain and and under unbearable stress, who many would expect to be at the point of despair.

“But, as he confirmed, he is ready to suffer this pain and is as determined as ever to pursue the path which he has chosen to enable him arrive at the destination which well-meaning people in Nigeria and far far beyond are expecting him to arrive at.

“This is the destination where Nigerians will be able to live in a secure and productive country which they (particularly the younger generations) will be proud to call their own.

“Ahead, Ahead!

“I suppose he told me all this confidentially. My very sincere apologies, Your Excellency, for ‘breaking’ this confidentiality, but history beckons and I cannot keep quiet,” Prof. Okunna was quoted as saying.

Ohanaeze kicks

Reacting to this, Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemned “the embarrassment and evil plots to rope Peter Obi”, saying all of them will fail.

“It is very unfortunate for those who want to rope in Obi and embarrass him. However, it was good it happened. After this, there will not be such a thing again anywhere in the world as they have been exposed.

“They have exposed their plots to the whole world. But whoever is playing such is wasting time and energy.

“It is very clear to the world that the man is a man of integrity and law abiding, who had been pursuing his mandate legally. So, any plot to rope him I and embarrass him will continue to fail. They are being exposed.

“It is unfortunate that some Nigerians still want us back wards. But we will resist it, Nigerians will resist it, the youths will resist it because they want a future,” Ohanaeze said through the National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Chidozie Ogbonnia.

Miriam Onuoha, a member of the House of Representatives from Imo State, has officially declared interest in contesting the speakership election.

Ms Onuoha, who represents Okigwe North Federal Constituency in Imo State, made the declaration Wednesday in Abuja.

She urged all the men in the race to step down for her in the interest of the inclusion of women, youth and the South-east geopolitical zone.

“In almost about 90 positions of this country, the men have dominated it. Ceding this one position to me will be a way of proving that we are running an inclusive government.

“I use this opportunity to call on my co-contestants — my male contestants to consider the love and the care Nigerian voters have shown to them, and as a matter of honour, step down to support this woman.

“I call on the male contestants to step down in the interest of peace and understanding if Nigeria and our democracy must advance, my candidature has to be pushed,” she said.

Ninth Assembly not rubber stamp

When responding to questions on the performance of the 9th Assembly, Ms Onuoha said she disagrees with the assertion that the current assembly has been a rubber stamp to the executive.

She promised to work with the executive arm and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu if she is elected by her colleagues.

“I disagree with the assertion that the assembly is a rubber stamp assembly, I have chosen as one of the mandates that I will work with the executive in the interest of Nigeria,” he said.

She also stated that she will avoid the “banana peel” that caused the downfall of a former Speaker, Patricia Etteh.

Ms Etteh was elected speaker in 2007 but subsequently resigned about five months later over a “corruption allegation”.

Ms Onuoha was first elected into the House in 2015 under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). She returned to the House in 2020 after the court sacked Obinna Onwubuariri.

She currently chairs the House Committee on Disabilities and is also known for sponsoring the controversial Cannabis Bill.

The Imo lawmaker is the latest in the long list of members that have joined the race.

Some of the lawmakers in the speakership race include Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Muktar Betara (APC, Borno), Ben Kalu (APC, Abia), Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), Tunji Olawuyi (APC, Kwara) and Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa).

Others include Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna) and Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara).

Another source, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence, said the choice of who emerges either the Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives will be subject to approval by the President-elect, Tinubu.

The source said: “In all we are conceiving, we are still at the realm of suggestions on how to navigate around the issue of leadership in the next National Assembly. Everything will still have to be subject to the thoughts, approval and implementation of the incoming president who is expected back before next week.”

THE National Population Commission (NPC) has postponed a training programme organised for enumerators and supervisors involved in the 2023 population census.

The training, which the NPC slated for April 13, has been postponed indefinitely.

The Commission’s chairman, Dr Ipalibo Harry, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday, April 12.

He assured that the development would not affect the conduct of the population and housing census scheduled to hold from May 3 to 7.

Harry said the NPC has concluded the training of its data managers and is prepared for the census.

First census since 2006

Nigeria is set to hold its first national population census in 17 years.

The census will be conducted in May and, according to the NPC, will meet global best standards.

Nigeria’s estimated population is more than 200 million, and the United Nations expects that to double by 2050. That would make Nigeria the world’s third most populous country, overtaking the United States.

The census had been earlier scheduled for March 29 but was postponed due to the postponement of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

According to the NPC, the census will be conducted digitally. This, according to the Commission, is in line with the United Nations (UN) recommendations.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N2.8 billion for the Commission to procure software to be used for the conduct of the census.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, April 15, 2023 for the conduct of supplementary election in Port Harcourt II and Khana/Gokana federal constituencies.

The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Sinikiem, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, April 11.

Sinikiem said the election would commence by 8:30am in the LGAs and Registration Areas and in Khana Wards 04 and 07, across 42 polling units.

He said in Port Harcourt, the election would be held in 377 polling units within Wards 05, 10 and 28 respectively.

The statement reads in part:

”The management of INEC in Rivers State wishes to inform all political parties and the entire public that the supplementary election for Port Harcourt II and Khana/Gokana federal constituencies earlier announced by the Commission will hold this Saturday, April 15, 2023 by 8.30am in the LGAs/registration areas.

The Commission therefore calls on all registered voters in the affected registration areas/polling units to come out en masse on the above-mentioned date to cast their votes and to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and in accordance with laid down guidelines.

Please be assured of our commitment to ensure a successful conclusion of the election.”

The price of Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol has risen by 81 per cent in the past three years, according to the National Bureau of Statistics reports analysed by our correspondent.

This came as findings showed that the Federal Government has paid about N5.83tn subsidy on petroleum products.

NBS data showed that between February 2020 and February 2023, the price of fuel rose from N145.41/litre to N263.76/litre.

The NBS report stated that the average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit in February 2023 was N263.76, indicating a 54.76 per cent increase when compared to the value recorded in February 2022 (N170.42).

Likewise, comparing the average price with the previous month (January 2023), the average retail price increased by 2.58 per cent from N257.12.

At the onset of 2020, the average price paid by consumers for petrol increased by 0.08 per cent year-on-year and month-on-month by 0.03 per cent to N145.41 in February 2020 from N145.37 in January 2020, according to the NBS.

At the time, the Federal Government had paid about N134bn as fuel subsidy payment.

States with the highest average price of petrol were Abia (N146.87), Adamawa (N146.67) and Niger (N146.57). States with the lowest average price of premium motor spirit were Abuja (N143.67), Enugu (N144.50) and Lagos (N144.73) in 2020

In the last three years, fuel subsidy has gone from N134bn in 2020 to N1.43tn in 2021, N4.39tn in 2022 and a projected N3.63tn by June of 2023. This led to a total of N5.83tn in subsidy payments, excluding the figures for 2023.

The Federal Government has continued to restate plans to remove fuel subsidy with a plan to deregulate the oil market by June this year.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said last week Nigeria had borrowed $800m from World Bank for the purpose of palliatives for Nigerians ahead fuel subsidy rmeival.

A September 2022 report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Initiative disclosed Nigeria had spent N13.7tn ($74.386bn) on fuel subsidies between 2005 and 2022.

However, there are fears that the removal of fuel subsidy might be drastic for the populace as the countdown to the June 2023 date for subsidy removal inches closer.

The management of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, manufacturers of Peak Milk, has apologised to the Christian Association of Nigeria for using the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as a metaphor to promote their product on Good Friday, saying the social media’ advertisement has been withdrawn.

While acknowledging the sensitivity of the social media post “considering the sobriety of the season,” the organisation said it was neither intended to make light of the significance of the season nor to inordinately exploit the unmatched sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”

The Executive Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc (Corporate Affairs), Ore Famurewa, expressed remorse in a letter to the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh dated April 10 2023, titled, “Apology for the Good Friday social media post by the Peak Brand”, obtained by the PUNCH on Tuesday morning (4:24 am).

“We hereby restate our commitment to our unwavering mission of nurturing Nigeria while maintaining the respect of all religious laws, tenets and guidelines.

“Once again, please accept our deepest apology and pledge to prevent a reoccurrence of such in the future. Do accept the assurances of my esteemed regards”, Famurewa said.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH by its General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, WAMCO described the advertisement as “insensitive, offensive, and totally unacceptable.”

While warning all companies and organisations to be mindful of the religious and cultural sensitivities of their customers when promoting their products, CAN said it was considering serious sanctions on the firm, including a boycott of their products by Christians.

The organisation said it would not tolerate any attempt to trivialize or disrespect our faith.

Since the advertisement, there had been a public outcry among Christendom which described it as “blasphemous.”

Daramola said the advertisement was not only disrespectful to the Christian faith but also an affront to the millions of Christians in Nigeria and beyond.

He had said, “Good Friday is a solemn day for Christians all over the world, a day we commemorate the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the cross for our sins. It is not a day to be used for crass commercial purposes.

“FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC’s action is not only disrespectful to the Christian faith but also an affront to the millions of Christians in Nigeria and beyond. We are deeply disappointed that a company of such repute would stoop so low to exploit the religious sentiments of its customers for profit.

“We are considering sanctions against FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, including a boycott of their products by our members and all well-meaning Nigerians who share our concerns. We call on the company to issue an unreserved apology to the Christian community and withdraw the offensive advert immediately."

“We recall a similar incident in the past when Sterling Bank Plc used crucifixion imagery to promote their product. We condemned it then, and we condemn it now.

“We, therefore, urge all companies and organisations to be mindful of the religious and cultural sensitivities of their customers when promoting their products. We will not tolerate any attempt to trivialise or disrespect our faith. Be warned!”

The Adamawa State Police Command, in collaboration with hunters, killed a suspected kidnapper and rescued two victims in the Toungo Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

Police spokesman, Suleiman Nguroje, stated in Yola on Monday that it was one of the successes of the police’s collaborative strategies to end kidnapping, robbery, cattle rustling, and unlawful possession of firearms.

“One kidnapper was neutralised when he and his gang arrived at a spot to receive N2million ransom demanded from relatives of the kidnapped victims.

“The suspected kidnappers sighted our men around the area and engaged them in a gun duel so as to escape arrest.

“One of them was neutralised while others escaped with bullet wounds,’’ he stated.

Nguroje added that the two victims, Suleiman Abdullahi, 23, and Ruwa Buba, 11, residents of Mayo Sumsum Village in Toungo LGA, were rescued unhurt.

He stated that the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa, Afolabi Babatola, commended operatives of Toungo Divisional Police Office and the hunters for their gallantry.

Babatola directed the joint operations team to track down fleeing members of the kidnap gang to ensure that they did not re-group anywhere in the state.

The police commissioner charged residents to always inform the police of the whereabouts of criminals, especially those found with bullet wounds,’’ Nguroje stated.

NAN

Club statement - Frank Lampard

Chelsea FC has announced that Frank Lampard has been named Caretaker Manager until the end of the season.

The move marks a return to Stamford Bridge for Frank who enjoyed an illustrious playing career with the Blues, winning the Premier League on three occasions and the UEFA Champions League in Munich. He managed the club for 84 games, including guiding us to an FA Cup final.

Co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said:

’We are delighted to welcome Frank back to Stamford Bridge. Frank is a Premier League Hall of Famer and a legend at this club. As we continue our thorough and exhaustive process for a permanent head coach, we want to provide the club and our fans with a clear and stable plan for the remainder of the season. We want to give ourselves every chance of success and Frank has all of the characteristics and qualities we need to drive us to the finish line.

’We have an important game against Wolves on Saturday and then we will turn our attention to our Champions League quarter-final in Madrid next week. We are all going to give Frank our full backing as we aim to get the best possible outcome from all our remaining games.’

“Should there be any reason why you can’t travel to Biafra land to be counted, make sure you and your family members are not counted outside Biafra land. We must prove them wrong once and for all.”

He added that it would engage transport owners to be part of this project so that those willing to travel to the East to be counted could do so.

“We are calling on all well-meaning Igbo business men and women, entrepreneurs, senators, ministers, commissioners, House of Assembly members from the Eastern states to contribute in one way or the other to ensure that our people come back home during this population census exercise.”

Suspected gunmen, on Monday, have reportedly kidnapped a yet-to-be-identified man at Molete area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, whisking him away in his Lexus Jeep.

Tribune Online gathered that the gunmen, who were dressed in black, stopped the car on the Molete fly-over bridge in Ibadan with sporadic gunshots which forced residents of the area to scamper for safety.

Our reporter learnt that one of the two people inside the car managed to escape by jumping off the Malete flyover bridge while the car owner was whisked away to unknown an destination by the gunmen.

Narrating his experience, the escaped passenger who pleaded to be anonymous, stated that they were finally stopped by the gunmen at Molete after being tailed for a while.

He said, “We were trailed and stopped here on the bridge, they fired gunshots, and because of the fear of being shot, I ran for safety by jumping off the bridge.

“They snatched car keys and fled with the car and the owner.”

The young man added that the car owner had just bought the car after he won a sporting bet recently.

Trump arrives at courthouse to face historic criminal charges.

Donald Trump turned himself in Tuesday for a historic New York court hearing held amid tight security and a global media frenzy, as the Republican billionaire becomes the first American president in history to face criminal charges.

During their preliminary interviews, it was learnt that the syndicate rented another building used as drugs warehouse inside Richmond Estate, Lekki. By the time operatives located the house, it was discovered that other members of the syndicate had broken into the store and carted away bags of illicit substances. However, some illicit drugs paraphernalia including sealing machine, bloating machine and packaging bags were recovered from the warehouse. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Edward Omatseye at his residence around Lekki area. Edward confessed during interview to be working for Igho and his wife, Danielle, who are identified as the overall heads of the criminal group.

Investigation was able to establish that Favour and Shalom were recruited as salesgirls in the illicit drug trade by Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help, on behalf of the celebrity couple: Igho Ubiribo (aka Tiny) and Danielle Simba Allen (aka Dani), who are the owners of the business, while Edward Omatseye (aka Montana) coordinates the illicit drug trade activities for them in Nigeria, with Nnochiri Chidinma Promise as representative of Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.

While Nnochiri Chidinma Promise and Edward Omatseye (aka Montana) have already been charged to court and are currently facing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos alongside Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company which had been linked to two previous drug seizures and also involved in the current case, several attempts to get Prophetess Faith Ugochi, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen submit themselves for questioning have proved abortive.

A letter of invitation sent to Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Adoration Ministries, No. 27 Anozie Street, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 28th November 2022 was received and acknowledged by her mother, with whom she runs the Church. The letter was followed with a reminder on 9th January, 2023 after a long wait.

In the same vein, letters of invitation were also extended to Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen. A reminder was also sent when the couple didn’t show any readiness to respond to the first invitation. While Prophetess Ugochi fled her home and went into hiding but continued her prophetic ministration on Facebook, the duo of Igho and Danielle initially sent a legal representation to ask for another time to honour the invitation, they have since gone incommunicado.

Curiously, they hurriedly moved all funds traced to their company Lasgidi Backwood Ltd where all proceeds from the sales of illicit drugs were deposited into a private account of one Victor Imagoro. The Agency has since blocked the sum of Eighty Million Naira (N80,000,000) traced to the account and obtained a court order to seize all properties including a fuel station linked to the suspects in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The NDLEA has further sought and obtained an order of the Federal High Court Lagos to declare wanted the celebrity couple: Ubiribo Igho and Danielle Allen, as the arrowheads of the illicit trade as well as Prophetess Faith Ugochi, who recruits teenage girls as sales representatives for the duo.

Meanwhile, the Agency in collaboration with other stakeholders including the Customs Service on Friday 31st March conducted a joint examination of two containers marked TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 where One Hundred and Forty-Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand (143,800,000 tablets) pills of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3tons (10,386kgs). The opioid pills, which were mixed with cartons of sweet were imported from India. The interception followed credible intelligence and cooperation of sister agencies.

In the same vein, officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, have intercepted at a courier firm a cargo of 1.5kg cocaine concealed in a carton declared to contain hair cream, shampoo, hair rollers and burners, going to London, UK.

In Kaduna, operatives on Monday 27th March raided Dan Wata village, Soba LGA where they arrested one Abdurrashid Musa, 33, with 142.8kg cannabis while the principal suspect, Ibro Danwata is still at large, while another suspect, Shamsu Abdullahi (aka Waja), 35, was also arrested the previous day during a follow up operation at Rigasa Kaduna, after he had abandoned 80,000 tablets of Diazepam weighing 13.4kg and escaped arrest earlier.

No less than 63 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 600kg stored in a house at Okpe village in Akoko-Edo LGA were recovered on Friday 31st March when operatives raided the area, while a raid of a warehouse owned by one Shehi Mallam at tomatoes market, Dei Dei Abuja same day led to the seizure of 80 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 842.4 kilograms. In Cross River, 12,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg were seized from a female passenger, Talatu Sale Adamu, 46, when NDLEA officers intercepted the commercial bus she was travelling in along Ogoja/ Katsina-Ala road on Monday 27th March.

While a suspect, Abraham Alaigwu was arrested at Slaughter, Trans/Amadi area of Port Harcourt, Rivers state with 91.7kg of cannabis on Thursday 30th March, 228kg of same substance was seized from Ayodele Osuya, 35, in a Toyota Camry car around Quarter Guard area of Akure, Ondo state.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA for a painstaking investigation of Prophetess Faith Ugochi and the celebrity couple, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen along with other members of their cartel, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) assured that no effort will be spared to ensure the fleeing suspects are brought to face the consequences of their action. He also expressed his gratitude to operatives of Apapa, DOGI, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Kaduna, FCT and Ondo Commands of the Agency for their resilience, professionalism and excellent synergy with other security agencies in their areas of responsibility. He charged them and their colleagues across the country to continue to raise the bar in their daily attainments.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 2nd April 2023

Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ oil producers on Sunday announced further oil output cuts of around 1.16 million barrels per day, in a surprise move that analysts said would cause an immediate rise in prices and the United States called inadvisable.

The pledges bring the total volume of cuts by OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with Russia and other allies, to 3.66 million bpd according to Reuters calculations, equal to 3.7% of global demand.

Sunday’s development comes a day before a virtual meeting of an OPEC+ ministerial panel, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, and which had been expected to stick to 2 million bpd of cuts already in place until the end of 2023.

Oil prices last month fell towards $70 a barrel, the lowest in 15 months, on concern that a global banking crisis would hit demand. Still, further action by OPEC+ to support the market was not expected after sources downplayed this prospect and crude recovered towards $80.

The latest reductions could lift oil prices by $10 per barrel, the head of investment firm Pickering Energy Partners said on Sunday, while oil broker PVM said it expected an immediate jump once trading starts after the weekend.

"I expect the market to open several dollars higher ... possibly as much as $3," said PVM’s Tamas Varga. "The step is unreservedly bullish."

Top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia said it would cut output by 500,000 bpd. The Saudi energy ministry said the kingdom’s voluntary reduction was a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market.

"OPEC is taking pre-emptive steps in case of any possible demand reduction," Amrita Sen, founder and director of Energy Aspects, said.

Last October, OPEC+ had agreed to an output cut of 2 million bpd from November until the end of the year, a move that angered Washington as tighter supply boosts oil prices.

The U.S. has argued that the world needs lower prices to support economic growth and prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from earning more revenue to fund the Ukraine war.

The Biden administration said it sees the move announced by the producers on Sunday as unwise.

"We don’t think cuts are advisable at this moment given market uncertainty - and we’ve made that clear," a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

STARTS IN MAY

The voluntary cuts start from May and last until the end of the year. Iraq will reduce its production by 211,000 bpd, according to an official statement.

The UAE said it would cut production by 144,000 bpd, Kuwait announced a cut of 128,000 bpd while Oman announced a cut of 40,000 bpd and Algeria said it would cut its output by 48,000 bpd. Kazakhstan will also cut output by 78,000 bpd.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak also said on Sunday that Moscow would extend a voluntary cut of 500,000 bpd until the end of 2023. Moscow announced those cuts unilaterally in February following the introduction of Western price caps.

An OPEC+ source said Gabon would make a voluntary cut of 8,000 bpd and not all OPEC+ members were joining the move as some are already pumping well below agreed levels due to a lack of production capacity.

After Russia’s unilateral reductions, U.S. officials said its alliance with other OPEC members was weakening, but Sunday’s move shows the cooperation is still strong.