An Assistant Superintendent of Police, attached to Shogunle divison in Lagos, Babatunde Adebayo, has been arrested for smoking Indian hemp in public.

In a photo that went viral on Sunday, Adebayo was caught on camera, puffing on a wrap of cannabis while he was in a gathering.

The photo was captioned “Nigerian police officer at Ijora Lagos smoking weed on duty.”

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the state police command said the officer had been identified and would face disciplinary action.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, had directed that appropriate sanctions be meted out to Adebayo.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command has identified the police officer pictured smoking weed at the Ijora area of Lagos State. He is ASP Babatunde Adebayo serving at Shogunle Divison of the Command.

“Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, fdc, mnim, psc has directed the immediate commencement of appropriate disciplinary measures commensurate with his rank.

“CP Alabi has equally warned officers and men of the Command to stay clear of all unprofessional and unethical conducts as any officer found guilty of these acts will be severely sanctioned.”

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The Offinso Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region has convicted a Nigerian citizen for falsely presenting himself as a Ghanaian in order to acquire a Ghana Card.
 
The court presided over by Frederick Kwabena Twumasi on April 7, convicted Justin Jeff Manu to a one-year jail term or 200 penalty units.
 
The court also found his accomplice, Mary Fowaa, who is a Ghanaian, guilty. She was served the same sentence as Justin.
 
According to the National Identification Authority (NIA), on Thursday, March 24, 2022, Mary Fowaa went to the NIA District Office in Offinso South to vouch for Justin Jeff Yaw Manu.
 
Mary Fowaa is reported to have said that Justin Jeff Manu is one of the three children she gave birth to whilst living in Nigeria.
 
“In the course of the interview, the Assistant Registration Officer at the Offinso South District Office of the NIA noticed some discrepancies in Justin Jeff Yaw Manu’s answers and suspected he is not a Ghanaian,” the NIA stated.
 
Upon further interrogation at the NIA District Office, Justin admitted that he is not a Ghanaian.
 
The NIA officials in the district later brought this to the attention of the District Police who then investigated and prosecuted the culprit.
 
In the press release signed by the Acting Head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Abudu Abdul-Ganiyu, the Authority commended the CID of the Ghana Police Service in the Offinso South District for the “swift and efficient manner” the offence was investigated and prosecuted.

 

Nigerian Convicted For Posing As Ghanaian To Acquire Ghana Card by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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Nigerian man, Simon Adavize Momoh will know on June 2 if he can continue to stay in Malaysia with his Malaysian wife and two children or leave the country that has been his home for the past nine years.
 
The High Court in Shah Alam will be deciding on June 2 on whether to quash the Immigration Department’s previous order for Simon to leave Malaysia, Malay Mail reports.
 
Judicial commissioner Shahnaz Sulaiman set the date after hearing arguments from the lawyers for both Simon and the Malaysian government on Monday.
 
Simon actually had a valid spouse visa that would only expire in October 2022.
 
But the Immigration Department decided on April 9, 2021, to cancel his spousal social visit pass. It followed up three days later with a detention and deportation order against Simon.
 
These events happened even as Simon was already detained by immigration officials for weeks without access to his lawyers.
Simon was first arrested on March 15, 2021, on a drink-driving offence. For this, he paid RM12,000 fine and served a symbolic one-day jail sentence. But instead of being released, he continued to be held for over a month.
 
Simon was successful in challenging this, with the High Court ruling on April 23 last year that his detention was unlawful and unconstitutional, enabling him to reunite with his wife and children after 40 days apart.
 
Simon is now challenging the Immigration director-general’s order to have him removed from Malaysia.
 
In the hearing today of the lawsuit filed on April 20, 2021, to challenge the cancellation of his visa and the deportation order, Simon had named the Immigration director-general and the home minister as the two respondents.
 
In the judicial review, Simon is seeking several specific court orders, including a certiorari order to quash the respondents’ decision to revoke his social visit pass and to issue the “perintah tahan usir” or order to detain and deport him.
 
Simon is also seeking a declaration that the respondents did not act appropriately or acted beyond their jurisdiction in deciding to revoke his social visit pass and to issue the detention order (Perintah Tahan Usir), and is also seeking a prohibitory order to prevent the respondents from making any subsequent decision to revoke his social visit pass and to issue the detention order (Perintah Tahan Usir) under the same circumstances.
Simon’s lawyer Datuk Gurdial Singh Nijar argued that the Immigration Department’s decision to cancel his client’s spouse visa was illegal.
 
Among other things, Gurdial urged the High Court to consider the need to preserve the family unit of Simon, his Malaysian wife and their two young children, as the deportation order by the immigration authorities would result in the family being torn apart.
 
“We must take into account the family circumstances. What you want to do, want him to go to Nigeria? Then the two children are deprived of parental care of both parents. These are the kind of circumstances that have to be engaged before you declare a person prohibited and decide to throw him out,” he said.
 
Gurdial noted that Malaysia is a country that is a party to or had agreed to be bound by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which places the child’s best interest as the paramount consideration, and that there is then a legitimate expectation for the government to take into account the paramount interest of the child.
 
Gurdial also argued that it was disproportionate for the Immigration authorities to exercise their discretion to categorise Simon as a prohibited immigrant that should be deported from the country, simply because of his drink-driving offence.
 
“The law cannot accept that simply as a basis to restrict a person’s rights that he has already acquired by virtue of the spousal social visit pass. The point is, where is the consideration in respect of the family unit which you tear apart, should that not be a consideration?
 
“We are saying that the authorities, because they are part of the government and they have ratified the international treaty which says you take into account the paramount interest of the child, then you should at least have regard to that when you exercise your discretion,” he argued.
 
 

 

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President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies not to spare or forgive those behind the recent killings in Plateau State.
 
Gunmen had recently attacked several communities in the Kanam local government area of the state. About 70 people were said to have been killed during the attacks.

A statement on Tuesday signed by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said Buhari had instructed law enforcement agencies to restore peace in the affected areas and ensure the culprits are brought to justice.
 
The statement read: “As full details emerge on the scale of the brutal terrorist attacks in Kanam and Wase communities in Plateau State, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killings as heinous, saying that the perpetrators should not be allowed to escape justice.”
 
Shehu said Buhari offered his condolences to the relations of the victims of the terrorist incident, saying that as a matter of priority, peace must return at all costs to the state and the entire country.
 
“I urge all our citizens, the people of Plateau State in particular to expose the perpetrators of such incidents, their sponsors and those who encourage such criminals who carry out these dastardly acts of murder so that the law will take its course. They must not be forgiven,” he added.
 
The president has given such directives on several occasions after attacks by gunmen and terrorists but the country's insecurity situation remains a concern to many.

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Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for failing to combat worsening insecurity in the country.
 
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Director, Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
 
According to Baba-Ahmed, the Nigerian constitution allows the President to step down if he can’t solve the challenges confronting the country.
 
He said, “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari does not appear to have answers to the challenges of security to which we are exposed. We cannot continue to live and die under the dictates of killers, kidnappers, rapists and sundry criminal groups that have deprived us of our rights to live in peace and security.
 
“Our constitution has provisions for leaders to voluntarily step down if they are challenged by personal reasons or they prove incapable of leading.
 
“It is now time for President Buhari to seriously consider that option since his leadership has proved spectacularly incapable of providing security over Nigerians. Our Forum is aware of the weight of this advice, and it is also aware that we cannot continue to live under these conditions until 2023 when President Buhari’s term ends.
 
“Killers and other criminals appear to have sensed a paralysing vacuum at the highest levels of leadership, and they grow more confident and acquire more competence in subverting the State and our security.
 
“Nigerians have shed enough tears and blood without an appropriate response from those with responsibilities to protect us.”

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The mother of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu has disclosed that her deceased daughter left "her marriage for over a year, and only returned after her husband came with pastors to beg her to return home".
 
Osinachi’s death was announced on Friday night.

Some media reports initially said she died of cancer but minutes later, it was learnt that the singer died in the hospital after suffering from domestic violence from her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.
Peter was alleged to have kicked Osinachi in the chest, leading to a blood clot that eventually killed her.
Singer, Frank Edwards, also disclosed that an “unreasonable human” put an end to her life.
 
There are reports that Osinachi refused to leave the marriage despite domestic violence because of her commitment to the church.
 
However, on Monday, the arrest of Nwachukwu by operatives of the FCT Police Command was made public. He has however been transferred to the homicide department for further investigation.
 
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force said it would charge Osinachi's husband to court for culpable homicide over the death of his wife.
 
Meanwhile, the deceased mother on Tuesday while speaking with BBC Igbo, said that Peter allegedly threatened that his late wife would only leave the marriage in death.
 
The mother affirmed that she could not see her grandchildren for eight years and was never allowed to come for "Omugwo" (traditional Igbo custom for postpartum care by the woman’s mother) when they were born.
 
The mother who said that Osinachi’s husband never allowed her family into their house until some pastors intervened, added that she told Osinachi several times to leave the marriage but she insisted on staying, insisting that the Bible frowns on divorce.
 
She denied claims by Peter about the singer’s health, adding that before her daughter died, she and her husband went for a medical checkup and were told by experts that nothing was wrong with her.

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FBI Agents

US and international law enforcement agencies have seized control of a popular website where hackers have advertised data stolen from American consumers and corporations.
This is the latest in a long-running effort to crack down on forums where cybercriminals congregate.

FBI Agents The intercept
Tagged TOURNIQUET, the operation was said to have been carried out by the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service.
"This domain has been seized" by the FBI, US Secret Service and Justice Department, read a notice Tuesday on the home page of RaidForums, a website known more for advertising hacked data in English rather than in Russian, the preferred language of other criminal forums.
Law enforcement agencies from the United Kingdom, Sweden and elsewhere were involved in the seizure, according to the statement, CNN reports.
With over 530,000 registered members, according to threat intelligence firm Recorded Future, RaidForums had great reach and influence among low to mid-level cybercriminals.
RaidForums' 21-year-old alleged founder, Diogo Santos Coelho, was arrested in the United Kingdom on January 31, and remains in custody pending "the resolution of his extradition proceedings," the Justice Department said.
It's the latest move in a sustained international law enforcement effort to upend the marketplaces where cybercrime flourishes.
German police last week seized the computer servers of Hydra, a popular Russian dark web market connected to $5 billion in transactions since 2015.
"The takedown of this online market for the resale of hacked or stolen data disrupts one of the major ways cybercriminals profit from the large-scale theft of sensitive personal and financial information," Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division in a written statement.
US authorities had access to RaidForums' computer infrastructure for several months before the seizure was announced, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter.
That likely gave authorities valuable insight into who bought and sold hacked data during that time.
The seizure of RaidForums is a blow to crooks looking for an easy way to profit from data breaches. But the underground market for stolen financial and personal data will likely continue to flourish, analysts said, because there are numerous other online bazaars for trading that data.
"With its low barriers to entry, RaidForums made it extremely easy for new and established threat actors to be active in the data breach and leak community," Recorded Future senior threat intelligence analyst Allan Liska told CNN.
It was one of the few English-language cybercriminal sites that denizens of prominent Russian-language underground forums deemed worthy of mentioning, according to Digital Shadows, a San Francisco-based security firm that monitors the dark web.
It had been a "consistent and stable platform" for hackers around the world to buy and sell data "largely without fear of disruption," Digital Shadows' Photon Research Team said in a statement to CNN.
"Highly sought-after databases were often shared on RaidForums and repurposed on Russian-language cybercriminal forums, leading members of the Russian-language cybercriminal underground to frequent RaidForums solely for this purpose," the Photon Research Team said.
Whereas cybercrime forums associated with the "dark web" require special software to access, "clear text" websites like RaidForums are accessible to the regular Internet user.
After the shuttering of RaidForums, other "forums on the clear web that struggled to compete with RaidForums could see an increase in the number of active members, but more sophisticated cybercriminals are likely to integrate themselves in underground forums on the dark web," said Ivan Righi, senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Digital Shadows.

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Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has instituted a fresh suit against the Nigerian government over its refusal to allow him to wear the native Igbo attire, Isi-Agu, for his ongoing trial.
 
Kanu in the suit he filed through one of his lawyers, Maxwell Opara, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, said preventing him from wearing his preferred attire is tantamount to an infringement on his fundamental human rights.
 
He accused the Nigerian Government of discriminating against him based on his ethnic group, as other persons on trial were allowed to wear clothes of their choice to court.
 
Kanu was renditioned to Nigeria from Kenya last June under questionable circumstances. Since his arrival, he has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), the secret police of Africa’s most populous nation.
 
The embattled IPOB leader argued that though he is currently a detainee, he is entitled to the enjoyment of his fundamental right to freedom from discrimination as guaranteed under Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
 
Cited as 1st to 3rd Respondents in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/482/2022, are the Director-General of the State Security Service (also called DSS), the State Security Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
 
Specifically, Kanu is asking the court to among other things declare “that the Respondents, whilst carrying out their lawful duties, are bound to adhere to and/or respect the fundamental rights of all citizens of Nigeria as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.”
He is also seeking an “order directing the Respondents, jointly and severally, to immediately allow the Applicant to have a change of clothes in their detention facility or at any time he appears in public for his trial.
 
“An order of this court directing the Respondents, jointly or severally, to allow the Applicant to start wearing any clothes of his choice, more so, to allow him to wear his traditional Igbo Attire (Isi-Agu) and/or other Igbo traditional attires of his choice.
 
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents, their authorized agents by whatever name so-called, from further disturbing or interfering with the rights of the Applicant to dignity of human person and freedom from discrimination or in any way infringing on the constitutional rights of the Applicant as guaranteed by law or from making any attempt capable of violating the Applicant’s rights as guaranteed under the Constitution.”
 
Also, he is praying the court to declare that the Respondents, whilst carrying out their lawful duties, are bound to adhere to and/or respect the fundamental rights of all citizens of Nigeria as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
 
During a ruling on February 16, Justice Binta Nyako asked Kanu to indicate the type of attire he preferred to wear.
 
In response, Kanu said: “I want to wear the clothes of my people, ‘Isi Agu’”, a choice the judge turned down.
 
 

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Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, has described the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as being under threat, saying it is currently populated by politicians.

The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) is a non-profit organisation seeking to promote democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement.

Itodo also said any improvement in the professionalism and independence of INEC is a threat to Nigeria's political class.

Itodo made the submission while speaking on Tuesday at a programme organised by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) titled, ‘Nigeria 2023: The New Electoral Act and the Road Ahead".

 

According to him, the more INEC improves on its technical expertise, the more the political class interferes with its affairs.

 

He said for the commission to record a high level of voter turnout, the independence of INEC must first be guaranteed so as to sustain the trust and confidence of the citizens in the electoral process.

 

Itodo further noted that the security of voters is at the heart of participation in the 2023 elections.

 

He stated, “INEC's reforms, improvement, professionalism is a threat to the political class, the more INEC improves on its technical experience and its management of the elections, the higher the political interference with the electoral commission.

 

“As we think about 2023 elections, one of the greatest concerns is how do we protect the independence of the electoral commission because the law vests a lot of discretionary powers on INEC and we've seen times, INEC is populated with politicians and members of political parties. That's giving a serious source of worry to the citizens and the public, if there's any time the institution needs some protection, it's actually now.”

 

“We've seen the commission take positions and try to draw the attention of political actors to provisions in the law as it relates to the regulatory powers of the commission.

“That's a positive but I think as we move towards the elections, INEC's independence is critical on how to protect the commission…” he said.

 

“Our expectation is if the new law confers integrity on the electoral process, then it will boost citizen confidence that they want to participate in the elections.

 

“If citizens still observe and grapple with access to polling stations or election logistics problems or even interference by state and security agencies, it will dampen their interest to participate in the election.

 

“If we recorded 35% in 2019, we may have an increase in the turnout of voters for the 2023 elections. There have been efforts by civil society to mobilise voters but if parties don't throw up credible candidates and it appears that institutions have been captured by the state, you will observe a decline in voters in the 2023 elections.

 

“I agree with Festus (Okoye) 100% that we need to invest in voter mobilisation for the 2023 elections but prior to that, is to assure the Nigerian people that when they come out to vote, their security is guaranteed and it's really at the heart of participation in the 2023 elections. I people don't feel secure, then even INEC cannot deploy to certain areas.”

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Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho

The Delta State police command, Asaba, has vowed to bring to justice, a Warri-based activist and the state's 'Take-It-Back Movement' Coordinator, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, over what it called "numerous criminal cases against him with a view to escaping justice.".

The command however warned the activist against what it termed "dragging the good name of the command to the mud and making unguarded utterances that are capable of bringing the name of the commissioner of police into disrepute.".

Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho

The police command also debunked allegations of its involvement in child trafficking, banditry and terrorism act against children in the state, levelled against the state commissioner of police, Ari Mohammed Ali by the state's coordinator of 'Take-It-Back Movement', Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.

A civic group, the Take-It-Back Movement, Delta state chapter, had in a letter addressed to the State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Asaba and copied to the Executive Secretary of the Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the state police commissioner, Ari Mohammed Ali, over his alleged involvement in child trafficking, banditry and terrorism acts allegedly committed against children in the state.

Reacting to the allegations in a statement signed by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Bright Edafe, debunked the allegations, stressing that it is solely the responsibility of either the state or Nigerian government to cater for any “found child” and provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority when, and if the need arises.

Edafe said, "Section 125 of the CHILD’S RIGHT ACT of Nigeria states, (i) Every state government shall, for the purpose of adoption, establish and maintain within the state and, in the case of the federal government, within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja a service designed to meet the needs of; (a) a child who has been or may be adopted; (b) parents and guardians of the child specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and (c) persons who have adopted or who may adopt a child, and for this purpose, every government shall provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority.

"(ii) The facilities to be provided as part of the services maintained under subsection (1) of this section include (a) temporary board and lodging, where needed by a child and, in exceptional circumstances the mother of a child; (b) arrangements for assessing a child and prospective adopters and placing of the child for adoption; and (c) counselling for persons with problems relating to adoption. Section 174-178 of the Child Right Act deals extensively with the processes of adoption which extend to the custody of found children.

"Succinctly, it is noteworthy, as it is crystal clear, that the command has done no wrong by handing over any child found in the state to the state ministry under which purview such responsibility falls. If the self-acclaimed activist is not comfortable with the law as it is stated in the Child’s Right Act of Nigeria, he can and is advised to seek redress in the court of law. Undoubtedly, the effort of the said Aghogho is aimed at blackmailing the command into abandoning the numerous criminal cases against him with a view to escaping justice.

"However, the command will not fold its hands, watch a misinformed, ill-intended and disgruntled individual rubbish its good work, drag the command to the mud or make comments that are capable of bringing the name of the Commissioner of Police into disrepute. The command will therefore take every necessary step to ensure that he is brought to justice sooner than later.”

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INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the major challenge to the electoral process in Nigeria is the insecurity ravaging some parts of the country.

 

The position of the body was made known by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, while speaking on Tuesday at a programme organised by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) titled, ‘Nigeria 2023: The New Electoral Act and the Road Ahead".

INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu Getty Images

According to him, insecurity has made it impossible for the Commission to deploy workers to some regions of the country and get people even at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp registered.

 

He, however, said the commission was working gradually on curbing the menace via interactions under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee On Election Security, so as to allow for peaceful elections in 2023.

 

He said, “The biggest challenge facing the electoral process in Nigeria today revolves around the issue of election security.

 

“The Nigerian military is engaged in internal security operations in almost all the states of the federation. There are states of the federation where the commission cannot even deploy for purposes of voter registration and we have many people in IDP camps that have to be registered.

 

“All these things impact on the electoral process but under the auspices of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security, we are reviewing some of these things and trying to find some measures to the security challenges to make for peaceful elections.”

 

Okoye, who explained that the body had improved on the electoral process with the adoption of technology, however, called upon the international community to support the commission in the area of voter education and engage more robustly with the political parties.

 

He explained, “We have the INEC Candidate Nomination Form, before now, political parties conduct their primaries and come physically to submit particulars of their candidates, now we no longer have any physical interaction with them.

 

“They have to upload everything through the Candidate Nomination Form. We do the same thing for civil society groups, media and political party agents. We realised that the more you deploy technology, the more you need to create platforms to deploy the technology being deployed so we are also looking at our cyber security platforms and ensure we protect them as much as possible.

 

“We want the international community to continue to support the technology devices so that we can continue to improve in the use of technology. We also want the international community to partner with CSOs and the commission in the area of voter education and electoral education.

 

“We also want the international community to engage more robustly with the political party to guarantee peaceful and transparent elections.”

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Some gunmen believed to be terrorists have attacked a mosque in Maisamari town in the Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing a district head.

The victim has been identified as Alhaji Abdulkadir Maisamari.

He has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

According to eyewitnesses, Maisamari was killed during Ishai prayers on Monday night.

The gunmen reportedly opened fire on worshippers immediately after they stormed the mosque.

Residents were said to have confronted the gunmen and forced them to flee into a mountain close to the town.

A resident, Musa Sale, told Daily Trust that some courageous persons confronted the gunmen and forced them to flee.

He, however, said nobody was abducted during the attack.

 

The latest incident brings to three the mosques that have been attacked in the state in recent weeks.

 

The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident but did not give details.

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The Nigeria Police Force has announced that a computer-based test for candidates shortlisted in the 2021 recruitment exercise will hold on April 20 and 21.

Acting Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Adejobi asked all candidates in the recruitment exercise for police constables, who applied and attended the physical screening exercise, to check their recruitment status and print the CBT examination slip.

The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force, in conjunction with the Police Service Commission, wishes to admonish all candidates in the ongoing 2021 recruitment exercise for Police Constables, who applied and attended the physical screening exercise, to check their recruitment status and print their Computer Based Test (CBT) examination slip, if qualified for the next stage of the exercise.

“This slip would grant them access to the CBT Examinations scheduled to hold between 20th and 21st April 2022 at designated centres in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The CBT examinations printout will show specific examination dates, times, and designated locations for each candidate within the States/FCT. Detailed and specific guidelines for each State will be announced by the Police Public Relations Officers in the thirty-six states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Premised on this, successful candidates for the next stage can check their application status on https://www.policerecruitment.gov.ng accordingly.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, reiterates that the recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge and without any pecuniary obligation. The IGP equally assures that the process will be conducted in the best tradition of transparency and accountability.

“He advises the applicants to be wary of online imposters, scammers, and other criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the recruitment process to dupe innocent applicants. All complaints can be channelled through 08100004507 or support@policerecruitment.gov.ng. The IGP however warns that anyone found wanting in this regard will be arrested and prosecuted.”

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Senate

The Senate, Tuesday, passed the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill, 2020.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Interior.

Senate

The bill was sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), a statement on Tuesday signed by Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, said.

It noted that the Senate also passed the Nigerian Hunters Council Bill to prevent illegal activities in the forests, among other purposes.

Senator Sulieman Sadiq Umar (Kwara North), in a presentation on behalf of the Committee Chairman of the Committee, Kashim Shettima, said the panel consolidated the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill and National Unity Corps Bill into one for “ease of advancing its work.”

He said the Nigerian Peace Corps bill seeks to empower, develop and provide gainful employment for youths and facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch and nation-building.

He explained that the Corps would have the responsibility of training youths to advance the course of peace-building and conflict transformation through peace education, mediation and conflict resolution among warring groups and communities where there are crises in Nigeria.

The lawmaker said, “The bill when given legislative support will be of great benefit to the Nigerian youths as many of them will be gainfully employed through the establishment of the Corps.”

In a related development, the Senate on Tuesday also passed the Nigerian Hunters Council Bill.

The bill’s passage was sequel to the consideration of another report by the Committee on Interior.

Senator Sulieman Sadiq Umar, in his presentation, said the Hunters Council when established would, among others, prevent and detect crimes and illegal activities going on in the country’s forests.

He stated that the body would work with the police and other security agencies by making available any relevant information on criminals’ encroachment, as well as partner with relevant stakeholders on community policing.

Meanwhile, the chamber has also passed a bill to establish the Federal College of Education, Akon, Kwara.

The bill was passed after the chamber considered a report by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund.

Senator Tolulope Odebiyi (Ogun West), in a presentation on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), said the institution would identify the educational needs of teachers and special persons, both physically and mentally challenged, with a view to finding a lasting solution to deficits in career teachers and special instructors while achieving the National Educational Development Plan.  

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Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi

The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has reportedly pulled out of the 2023 presidential race.

 

The governor, however, declared his intention to contest for the Ebonyi South senatorial seat in the forthcoming general elections, Peoples Gazette reported.

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi

In January, Umahi informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his interest to contest the presidency in the forthcoming general elections.

 

Umahi claimed President Buhari replied that he should consult widely.

 

Umahi’s visit to inform the President of his presidential ambition came after the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, paid a similar visit to President Buhari.

 

However, the factors responsible for Umahi's change of mind were unclear.

 

Just recently, the governor and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, were embroiled in a legal brawl with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Governor Umahi and his Deputy had in November 2020 left the PDP, the platform on which they sought election and were elected.

 

In a ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court on March 8, sacked the duo from the Ebonyi governorship seat, after the PDP successfully argued that the votes got in elections belong to political parties and not candidates.

 

However, the Ebonyi High Court, Abakaliki, quashed the suit which was challenging the defection.

 

Also, the Court of Appeal Enugu Division in a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice A. O. Belgore, held that Umahi and his deputy have the right to move to any political party they so wish.

 

The court held that there is nowhere in the constitution which is the supreme law of the land, where a sitting governor is barred from defecting to another political party.

 

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File photo used to illustrate story.

A repentant bandit popularly known as Smally in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State has led some courageous locals to the enclaves of bandits where the criminals were engaged, leaving scores dead and freeing about 38 kidnapped victims.

 

According to DAILY POST, Smally who was not happy with the killings and kidnapping of innocent citizens in the state decided to lead the operation against his former colleagues in their hideouts.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Umaru Usman, a resident of the community said, “The repentant bandit first killed some of the bandits and freed 16 kidnapped victims and took them to a nearby bush around Sakajiki village from where they were evacuated by security operatives.

 

“After some time, another 22 were also freed and brought out to the same spot and also evacuated by security operatives and moved to Gusau.”

 

Umaru Usman explained that the operation which took place around Dajin Yamma forest in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area brought jubilation among residents of the area.

On Monday, April 11, 2022, the state police commissioner, Ayuba Elkanan, in a press briefing in Gusau, said 39 kidnapped victims were rescued after a gun duel with bandits.

 

But according to some residents of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, the kidnapped victims were released by Smally and his group and not any security operative in the state, pointing out that the police are always looking for cheap publicity.

 

“The axis had been in total control of the recalcitrant bandits before Smally and his group courageously confronted the deadly terrorists in their enclaves and neutralised scores of them (bandits) while others escaped with various degrees of injuries,” one of the residents said.

 

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.

 

Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, steal cattle and kidnap residents for ransom.

 

Dozens of farmers have been killed as hundreds of hectares of farmland remain uncultivated.

 

Most of the slain victims were trapped on their farms and killed.

 

In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.

 

About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different 'repentant' gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.

 

Governor Bello Matawalle also approved millions of naira to be given to the 'repentant' bandits as compensation.

 

"Those bandits have different groups, so if they say they repent, the governor will give them a Hilux vehicle; unfortunately they are now using the vehicles to carry out attacks," a military source had told SaharaReporters.

 

“It's so sad, he called it a peace and reconciliation programme, but all you need to be rich now in Zamfara is to take up arms against the people."

 

The bandit leaders who got the vehicles include Na Shama, Sani Shaidan, Mohammadu Bello Halilu and Bage Waye.

 

Other beneficiaries were identified as Kachalla, Ado, Busniya, Dunbulu and Gajere.

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Lai Mohammed

The Nigerian government has rejected the 2021 annual World Press Freedom Index that characterised Nigeria as a country not conducive to the practice of journalism,

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, announced the rejection on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI).

Lai Mohammed

According to Mohammed, the Nigerian press remains among the most vibrant and freest in the world.

Mr. Muskilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, who led the team, had cited the World Press Freedom Index as an example of the country’s low rating in the area of press freedom.

But Mohammed disagreed, saying, “I disagree with your assessment of press freedom under this government.

 

“Honestly, at times when I read what the media write here about Nigeria, I begin to wonder whether I live in the same country that they are writing about.

 

“I disagree vehemently with the assessment because it is unfounded and has no scientific basis.

“I have been the Minister (of Information and Culture) since 2015 so I know the state of press freedom in Nigeria.”

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari's government is not a threat to the free press.

He said some people have mistaken the government’s efforts to ensure responsible use of social media for tampering with press freedom.

He said, “After all, this must be one of the very few countries in the world where a section of the media can refuse to recognise popular sovereignty, or how does one describe a situation in which a President who was duly elected by millions of Nigeria is willfully stripped of that title, President, and then cheekily cloaked in the garb of a dictator by playing up his military title? “Despite that abuse of press freedom, those doing that have continued to practise their profession without hindrance. Ours must also be one of the few countries in the world where a reputable medium will report fake news and, when called out, will not retract or apologise.”

 

Urging IPI Nigeria to take the issues of ethics, credibility and fake news in relation to the practice of journalism in the country seriously, Mohammed asked, “For example, on the issue of ethics, is it part of the ethics of journalism for a media organisation to function like an opposition party, seeing nothing good in the government of the day and only reporting bad news?”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) in August 2018 reported that on August 16, 2018, an Abuja Magistrate court conditionally released Jones Abiri, a journalist and publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He had been held for more than two years after his July 26, 2016 arrest by State Security Service (Department of State Services) agents. A statement by the security agency after his arrest accused Abiri of leading the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, a group allegedly furthering separatist tendencies in the Niger Delta. A Committee to Protect Journalists report said, however, his family believed his arrest was prompted by a controversial article republished by the Weekly Source.

 

Abiri was held incommunicado at an undisclosed location, despite efforts of family, lawyers, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists to reach him. A social media campaign and a lawsuit for his release filed on July 3, 2018, put pressure on the security service to finally charge and produce him before an Abuja Magistrate court on August 2, where he faced a charge of criminal intimidation.

 

In another case, the defunct Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad arrested and detained a Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe, on August 14. Premium Times reported he was arrested for refusing to disclose his source for his August 9 article about a report by the former police inspector general, Ibrahim Idris, to acting president Yemi Osinbajo.

The police said Ogundipe was arrested and charged with theft and unlawful possession of restricted and classified documents. He was conditionally released on August 17, but his trial was set for a later date.

In January 2017, the police raided the Premium Times office in Abuja and arrested the publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, and the judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu. They were released after a few hours. The arrest was allegedly carried out based on a complaint filed by the former chief of army staff, General Tukur Buratai, after Premium Times published damning reports alleging corruption and human rights violations by the military.

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Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has given political appointees in his cabinet who have the ambition to contest in the 2023 general elections to tender their resignation within the next 48 hours.
This was contained in a memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
The memo dated Monday 11, 2022 reads in parts: “As you are aware, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari has signed the amended Electoral bill Into Law and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released guidelines on the conduct of the impending general elections thereby signalling the commencement of intense political activities both at the Federal and State levels:
“Consequently and in line with the provision of section 84 (12) of the electoral act, 2022, political and public office holders desirous of participating in the political process either as a contestant for elective positions or as delegates should resign their appointments on or before Thursday, 14th April 2022.
“This is for your information and strict compliance, please.”
A good number of serving commissioners and aides of the governor have indicated an interest in some elective positions ranging from occupying seats in the state House of Assembly to the Senate.

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Governor Ortom

Samuel Ortom, Benue State Governor has again lamented the gruesome murder of 23 persons in fresh attacks on two communities by the suspected Fulani herdsmen on Monday night.

Subsequently, the governor directed his people to rise up to defend themselves forthwith, a statement by Nathaniel Ikyur, Chief Press Secretary to the governor on Tuesday, said.

Governor Ortom

No fewer than 8 persons were mowed down on Monday night by suspected Fulani herdsmen who invaded Mbadwem in the Guma local government area and 15 in Tiortyu in the Tarka local government area of the state.

Scores of others were injured and are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state.

Ortom, who was reportedly visibly angry, said, "It is becoming increasingly glaring every day that my people are now an endangered species and so we can no longer wait for help from anywhere.

“My people will have to rise up to the occasion to defend themselves and their heritage against the Fulani army of occupation.”

“We are law-abiding citizens. We have cried for help against these invaders but nothing is forthcoming. We are left alone and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now we have only one option; to defend ourselves or get extinct. This is a case for our survival.

 

“We have been accommodating of other people in our land but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are freeborn citizens of Nigeria,” the governor added.

 

Ortom nevertheless enjoined security operatives to do more in crime prevention and protection of lives and property in the state.

He also urged the people of the state to cooperate with security agencies to flush out the undesirable elements in the society.

 

The state government, he said, will not shy away from its commitment to provide welfare and security for the citizens.

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The Senate, on Tuesday, received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to approve adjustments to the 2022 fiscal framework.

The President also asked the chamber to approve an increase in the estimated provision for PMS subsidy for 2022 by N3.557 trillion, from N442.72 billion to N4.00 trillion.

The request was contained in a letter dated April 5, 2022.

The letter was read during the plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, according to a statement on Tuesday signed by Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President.

President Buhari, in the letter, explained that an adjustment to 2022 fiscal frameworks became imperative in view of new developments in both the global and domestic economies.

According to him, the developments were occasioned by spikes in the market price of crude oil, which were a fallout of the Russian-Ukraine war.

 

“As you are aware, there have been new developments both in the global economy as well as in the domestic economy which have necessitated the revision of the 2022 Fiscal Framework on which the 2022 Budget was based.

“These developments include spikes in the market price of crude oil, aggravated by the Russian-Ukraine war, significantly lower oil production volume due principally to production shut-ins as a result of massive theft of crude oil between the production platforms and the terminals.

“The decision to suspend the removal of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy at a time when high crude oil prices have elevated the subsidy cost has significantly eroded government revenues,” he said.

 

He, therefore, requested the upper chamber to approve an increase in the oil benchmark by US$11 per barrel, from US$62 per barrel to US$73 per barrel.

The President also sought a reduction in the projected oil production volume by 283,000 barrels per day, from 1.883 million barrels per day to 1.600 million barrels per day.

 

Seeking Senate’s approval to increase the estimated provision for PMS subsidy for 2022 by N3.557 trillion, from N442.72 billion to N4.00 trillion, President Buhari underscored the need to cut the provision for Federally-funded upstream projects being implemented by N200 billion, from N352.80 billion to N152.80 billion.

He proposed an increase in the projection for the Nigerian Government Independent Revenue by N400 billion; and an additional provision of N182.45 billion to cater for the needs of the Nigeria Police Force.

He added that “based on the above adjustments, the Federation Account (Main Pool) revenue for the three tiers of government is projected to decline by N2.418 trillion, while FGN’s share from the Account (net of transfer to the Federal Capital Territory and other statutory deductions) is projected to reduce by N1.173 trillion.”

He disclosed that the amount available to fund the FGN Budget is projected to decline by N772.91 billion due to the increase in the projection for Independent Revenue (Operating Surplus Remittance) by N400 billion.

 

He explained further that Aggregate Expenditure is projected to increase by N192.52 billion, due to an increase in personnel cost by N161.40 billion and other service wide votes by N21.05 billion (both for the Nigeria Police Force), additional domestic debt service provision of N76.13 billion, and net reductions in Statutory Transfers by N66.07 billion.

Giving a breakdown, he said the net deductions would see a cut by N13.46 billion from N102.78 billion to N89.32 billion for NDDC; NEDC, by N6.30 billion from N48.08 billion to N41.78 billion; UBEC, by N23.16 billion from N112.29 billion to N89.13 billion; Basic Health Care Fund, by N11.58 billion from N56.14 billion to N44.56 billion; and NASENI, by N11.58 billion from N56.14 billion to N44.56 billion.

The President noted that the total budget deficit is projected to increase from N965.42 billion to N7.35 trillion, representing 3.99% of GDP.

According to him, the incremental deficit will be financed by new borrowings from the domestic market.

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