An Area Pilgrims Officer (APO), Nma Ndagana, has failed to remit millions of naira paid into his account, for some intending pilgrims in the Bida Local Government Area of Niger State.

 

It was learnt that about 150 intending pilgrims who paid into the APO’s personal bank account as he had directed, instead of paying into the official designated account domiciled in the Jaiz Bank would not perform this year’s Hajj, according to Daily Trust.

Confirming the incident was the Secretary of the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Umar Maku Lapai, who noted that a committee had already been set up to investigate the allegations.

 

According to Umar Maku, complaints have been received in batches and more people are still coming forward with similar complaints.

 

He said the number of people registered by the Ndagana was more than the allocation given to his local government area, adding that he only remitted money for the number of people assigned for his area.

 

“There are two ways to it. For us in the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, we have paid money for the 2,265 people but we are yet to receive complete visas. It is the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria that is responsible to give us the visas.

 

“In the case of Bida, the number of pilgrims that he (APO) registered were above the slot he was asked to register. Those that he paid their money to us have been given visas. Those that paid their money to his account were the ones with problems.

 

“We have set up a committee to find out what actually happened. The committee is still investigating. The affected people are coming in batches. In the first place, we registered 28 complaints. Later more people came and they are still coming.

 

"If the allegations were found to be true, the official involved would not be allowed to travel. The board would not take responsibility for money paid into individual accounts," he said.

 

About 614 intending pilgrims from Kaduna State have not been airlifted even as the July 5 deadline issued by the Saudi Arabian government draws closer.

 

So far, 1,986 intending pilgrims have departed the state for the holy land with the fifth flight leaving the Kaduna International Airport Saturday night.

 

The state was initially given 2,491 slots before the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) increased the figure to 2,600.  

 

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Several persons have been injured after suspected thugs invaded the venue of a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths in Ologba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

 

According to eyewitness accounts, guns, knives, clubs, horns and other dangerous weapons were used by the invading thugs during the attack.

Though details of the incident are still sketchy, SaharaReporters learnt that the hoodlums also burnt several vehicles and motorcycles belonging to some PDP members.

 

The house of the opposition party’s youth leader in Iyale was also set ablaze.

 

“There is serious tension in Dekina LGA now. The thugs came to the PDP youth meeting venue yesterday (Sunday) at Ologba, destroyed properties, burnt vehicles and motorcycles,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters on Monday.

 

In November 2019, the PDP woman leader in Ochadamu Ward, Ofu Local Government Area, Mrs Acheju Abuh was killed by suspected political thugs, who burnt her alive in her home.

 

The prominent politician was sleeping in her home when political thugs set the building alight.

 

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The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is no match for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Okechukwu argued that the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Musa Kwankwaso as that of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) negate the convention of rotation system, adding that this would be their albatross.

He started this on Sunday during an interview with journalists at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, where he expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure 60 percent of the total votes cast in the 2023 presidential election. 

He said: “Asiwaju has 60 percent of winning this election. We are in charge of 22 states of the federation. We have the majority in the National and State Houses of Assembly – they are not going to betray him.

“Even in the South-East, that has never been our (APC) stronghold, on the day of the election, we are going there to protect our mandate.”

He added that all political appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari who are party members would also work to ensure victory for Tinubu.

He continued: “Whatever is my preference, if I want my office to remain it means I must support Asiwaju. It’s applicable to those who are board members whether you are coming from Yenogoa or Dutse so that is the power of incumbency.”

 

Okechukwu described rotation of government from zone to zone as important, saying “when (Abubakar) Tafawa-Balewa as Prime Minister, the president or governor-general was Nnamdi Azikiwe from the South. When (Yakubu) Gowon became Head of State, Obafemi Awolowo was his deputy, the same thing with Murtala (Muhammed) and (Olusegun) Obasanjo. Obasanjo/Shehu (Umaru) Yar’Adua; (Shehu) Shagari/(Alex) Ekwueme down the line.”

 

“It’s not as if rotation is a new thing. So, for the PDP because of Atiku’s muscle, they jettisoned the rotation of the presidency which was an injury to himself. Some of us in the south will forbid him because he touched on the ligament that is holding the country.

“That is why we thank the northern governors because they recognised the import of that ligament. You may not take it seriously but if you know the sense of belonging it brings to the north and south you can’t just dismiss it.

“So APC obeyed it. Kwankwaso I know they were afraid of us. I don’t want to name names. This rotation may not have its legal teeth but rotation is a convention. It has its moral angle. That’s why the UK does not have a written constitution they live on conventions. Atiku will not know what he did to himself until the day the votes come.

"So is also the way Kwankwaso is playing with us. The areas he will capture in the north, I know he is not going to give up and since he doesn’t obey the convention, he will not nominate somebody to go with Peter and if Peter does not go strong north, we will be in CPC and ANPP in 2003 we had 12 million votes we didn’t win the south.

"Nobody can win in Nigeria if you can’t have northern support. No northerner can win without a southern stronghold. Atiku has lost in the southern stronghold. That’s why I’m giving Tinubu about 60% chances," he added.

 

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The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has introduced a new rule compelling patients to pay N1,000 daily each as electricity bill.

In an internal memo, the hospital management claimed the new charge on patients was introduced because of the hikes in electricity tariff and cost of diesel.

The memo titled, ‘Approval for the recommendation to add utility fee to service charged patients in the hospital’ was signed by the UCH administrator, Wole Oyeyemi, on behalf of the Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee and Chief Medical Director.

According to the memo, the hospital management directed the immediate implementation of the rule requiring the payment of the N1,000 electricity charge by each patient.

 

The memo quoted by the Nigerian Tribune read, “Following the recurring power outage in the hospital, high cost of electricity tariff and inflation in the price of diesel which have impeded stable power supply, the management has decided to consider measures that can help to facilitate flawless service delivery in the hospital.

 

“To this end, I write to convey the management’s approval for the mandatory payment of utility fee of N1,000 daily by every patient accessing care in the hospital. You are requested to kindly implement approval with immediate effect.”

Nigeria's energy generation and supply have been abysmally below the capacity required for its 200 million population, meaning many citizens and businesses rely on generators to power homes and facilities respectively.

For instance, the national power grid has collapsed a number of times in 2022 alone, amid the rising cost of diesel and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, needed to power generators.

 

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Former Governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso has said northerners won’t vote for the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Peter Obi due to the succession agitation in South-East Nigeria.

According to Kwankwaso during an interview on Channels TV on Sunday, monitored by SaharaReporters, the northern electorate believes in one Nigeria and will always vote for northern presidential candidates.

Kwankawso said, “Unfortunately, there are many issues in the South-East, and a northern voter is the worst-hit in this issue of maladministration in this country.

“But even under that circumstance, a northern voter also believes that he is better with one united Nigeria.

“Therefore, most of the things that are happening in the South, especially in the South-East; people are not comfortable with that and as long as you have somebody from there (South-East) in any party, it will be very difficult for the northern voters to vote, and that’s the situation now.”

“And those workers who are against in the actual sense working against LP, South-East and so on, what they believe is if you put anybody under this arrangement from that side of the country, the northern voters will not vote and who will they vote? Their own candidate in the north,” he added.

He also said the only option left for Obi to get votes in the North is to accept to become his running mate.

“What I am telling you is that if anybody from the South-East now, under this circumstance, becomes the presidential candidate of our party or any other party, the implication is that because of the activities and other issues that are really on the ground, northern voters will certainly go for their northern candidate and another party.

“So, the thinking is not whether I like it or I don’t, the fact remains that everybody will lose.

 

“He [Obi] will lose and I will lose.

“As long as you want the votes from the North, that’s the situation, unfortunately, today,” he said.

 

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The Islamic State-backed faction of the Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād has claimed responsibility for the killing of a policeman in Suleja, Niger State.

 

Suleja is less than 20 kilometres away from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to the group, an attack was carried out by “soldiers of the caliphate” with automatic weapons.

 

ISWAP added that the policeman’s rifle was taken away.

 

In May 2022, the group claimed it killed three policemen and a commercial motorcyclist in Suleja.

 

The slain officers were identified as Hosea Saba, Yahaya Yakubu and Aminu Sani, all attached to the B Division command in Suleja.

 

This is the second time ISWAP will be claiming an attack in Niger State.

 

If the attack was executed by the insurgents as claimed, it, therefore, indicates the expansion of the terror group, beyond the North-East to other parts of Northern Nigeria.

 

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a reconciliation committee to appease Governor Nyesom Wike of River State over the choice of his Delta State counterpart, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as the party’s vice-presidential candidate in 2023.

 

The Committee will be led by the presidential candidate of the Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, who announced the formation of a reconciliation committee on Sunday, said their first assignment is to visit Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, whom he described as a responsible and obedient member of the party.

Jibrin also said Wike had assisted in the building of the party.

 

Jibrin, in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna, said as soon as Atiku and the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, returned to the country, the process of reconciling all aggrieved members would commence with Atiku as the head of the committee.

 

The BoT chairman listed members of the committee to include himself; Atiku, Okowa, Ayu and his National Working Committee members; representative of the BoT; the 13 governors of the PDP; former governors; and former ministers belonging to the PDP.

 

He urged members of the party to shun divisive comments capable of causing conflicts within the party and pushing some members to defect to other parties.

 

The statement read, “We view with great concern and great sense of feeling the various recent comments coming from some of our PDP members and some prominent Nigerians on the choice of Chief Okowa, the Governor of Delta State as the vice-presidential candidate, by the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of our party, PDP, the biggest party not only in Nigeria but the whole of Africa.

 

“All the comments and various submissions are very normal in any political set-up in Nigeria today with PDP being the strongest and most prominent party that has all potential to form government in 2023.

 

“But we must come back to our senses by all our members and all most responsible and respectful Nigerians by giving total support to the party to enable it form government by holding all political positions in Nigeria in 2023.

 

“It is, therefore, very necessary that when our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and our national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu return to Nigeria very soon from abroad, the following must be done immediately:

 

“A very important visit must be undertaken to Governor Wike comprising the following group:

 

“The above committee should be headed by the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”

Wike, who lost the presidential ticket of the opposition PDP to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, is said to be having a long battle with his party after losing the Vice-President’s slot to Governor Okowa.

In a Facebook post last Thursday, Joe Igbokwe, an APC chieftain in Lagos, claimed Wike met with the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu in France.

 

“While they are on social media abusing everybody, Governor Wike goes to France to meet Asiwaju. Abuse, calling names, hate, and bigotry are no strategy. They have hated and abused PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) since 2015 and now they have transferred the aggression to Asiwaju. We wait and see,” he had written in a now-deleted post.

 

Hours after Igbokwe’s post was pulled down, Wike on his Twitter handle simply shared a picture of himself in Turkey with the caption, “Thankful for a fine evening.”

 

Tinubu had earlier left for France after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last Monday.

 

Some hours after Tinubu left the country, Wike released pictures where he was seen vacationing with his Abia counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu, in Turkey.

 

SaharaReporters on Thursday reported that Atiku’s choice of Okowa as his running mate had degenerated into an internal crisis in the PDP.

 

One of Wike’s associates and friends, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, had said he was still praying and fasting to know if God wanted him to support Atiku or not.

 

SaharaReporters also reported that the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, made it clear that he was for the Southern presidency or nothing, which was an indication that he would not be supporting Atiku for the presidency.

 

 

 

 

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The Nigerian government has replaced Mr. Chukwuyere N. Anamekwe as the acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), The Nation reports.

 

He was said to have been replaced two weeks ago with AGF Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis, a former TSA (Treasury Single Account) Director.

Anamekwe’s replacement followed allegations that he was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

SaharaReporters learnt the replaced AGF had corruption allegations against him including alleged overpayment to himself in previous government agencies he served.

 

It was further alleged that some of the properties he acquired fraudulently had been recovered by the anti-corruption agencies.

 

One of his financial crimes was allegedly committed while he was the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) at the Ministry of Defence.

 

He was also allegedly involved in other fraudulent activities and used the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) to steal the salaries of federal government staff.

 

The GIFMIS is an IT-based system for budget management and accounting. It was adopted as part of a wider Public Service Reform Strategy by the federal government of Nigeria starting in the early 2000s.

 

It was also learnt that the government was not comfortable with his revelation that it was borrowing to pay salaries.

 

Anamekwe was appointed acting AGF on May 22. He made the controversial remark on government borrowing to pay salaries on June 14. He was replaced seven days after.

 

His replacement, Sylvis retired from office in the first quarter of 2023.

 

The Nation reported further that the Nigerian government has initiated a search for a new AGF.

 

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan has issued a circular to that effect.

 

In a memo titled: “Commencement of the process of appointment of a substantive Accountant-General of the Federation”, the HoCSF directed permanent secretaries to forward details of eligible directors on Grade 17 to her on or before 4:00 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

 

The memo stated the qualification of level 17 officers qualified for the position.

 

There are, “Those who have attained the position of Substantive Director (Grade 17) on or before January 1, 2020 and are not retiring from the service earlier than December 31, 2024 are eligible to participate in the selection process while officers undergoing disciplinary proceedings are excluded.”

 

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Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has cautioned his supporters and loyalists against being toxic, urging them to tolerate other people's views and opinions.

The former Anambra Governor said this on his Twitter page on Sunday following his supporters’ criticism of Poju Oyemade, senior pastor of Covenant Christian Centre and others perceived as attacking Obi on social media.

For instance, Oyemade had advised youths not to waste their enthusiasm on a “poorly planned project.”

Although the clergyman did not mention any name, his advice was seen as an attack on the youth movement of Obi.

Obi, therefore, noted that embracing other people's views will allow possible collaboration with them towards his presidential ambition during the 2023 general elections.

He said, "I sincerely thank my supporters for believing in me and my commitment to building a united, secure and well-functioning Nigeria. However, I appeal once more that we should be tolerant of other people's views, dissent and divergent opinions & possibly learn from them.

I sincerely thank my supporters for believing in me and my commitment to building a united, secure and well-functioning Nigeria. However, I appeal once more that we should be tolerant of other people's views, dissent and divergent opinions & possibly learn from them.

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) July 3, 2022

"While the frustration and anger in the country is understandable, we must strive to channel that energy positively in ways that will earn the support and collaboration of others.”

"Even as our message continues to gain broad acceptance, there are some we still need to work to convince. In expressing ourselves, we should do so with grace so as not to precipitately shut doors to future collaborations on sustainable nation-building," he added.

Meanwhile, human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju earlier said that supporters of Peter Obi might be working for his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Bola Tinubu considering the way they attack people with opposing views.

Adeyanju in a tweet advised them to rather unite and face APC instead of attacking people.

He tweeted, “What if Obidients are indirectly working for the Agbado man because I can never understand why they are so angry with my suggestions that the opposition should unite and face APC?”

 

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Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed on Mali, after its military rulers proposed a 24-month transition to democracy and published a new electoral law.

 

The bloc imposed stiff sanctions on Mali in January after the junta said it would not organise democratic elections the following month as initially planned, Reuters reports.

ECOWAS Commission President, Jean Claude Kassi Brou told a news conference that the sanctions will be lifted immediately. Borders with Mali will reopen and regional diplomats will return to Bamako.

"However, the heads of state decided to maintain individual sanctions, and the suspension of Mali from ECOWAS, until the return to constitutional rule," Kassi Brou said.

 

The individual sanctions targeted members of the ruling junta and the transitional council.

 

Mali has defaulted on over $300 million of its debt due to the sanctions, which cut it off from the regional financial market and the regional central bank.

The West African leaders meeting in Accra also accepted a pledge from the junta that seized power in Burkina Faso in January to restore constitutional order in 24 months.

 

Kassi Brou said that after a lengthy discussion with the coup leaders in Burkina Faso, a new proposal for a 24-month transition was more acceptable, after the heads of state rejected a proposed 36-month transition.

 

Economic and financial sanctions on Burkina Faso were also lifted, he said.

 

But the ECOWAS leaders rejected a three-year transition proposed by coup leaders who seized power in Guinea in September. They told Guinea's junta to propose a new timeline by the end of July or face economic sanctions.

 

The leaders appointed Benin's former president Yayi Boni as a new mediator and urged the Guinea junta to work with him and quickly propose a new timetable.

 

"Beyond that, economic sanctions will be imposed," Kassi Brou said.

 

 

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The name Adeleke is a household name in Osun State. No doubt, the family is the most influential and arguably the weathliest in the state; with a sterling record of commitment to multiple charity projects across the four cardinal points of Nigeria. People who barely know the family often attribute its influence to David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, the popular afropop singer, who is just one of the many grand children of the second republic senator, late Chief Raji Ayoola Adeleke. However, it's not completely wrong to say Davido added some flames to the name, the name Adeleke has stood out long before Davido's father, Deji Adeleke got married to Veronica Adeleke, his mother.
Adeleke is not just a name you hear and not look back to wonder if it is your time to be fortunate, even the rich want to be associated with them for reasons known to thousands of their beneficiaries and people who have witnessed the family kind gesture. The family is one of the few families Osun prides herself with.

Unlike Dr. Deji Adeleke who has for the past four decades been known across Africa to be a business mogul, little or nothing was known about Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke until the death of his eldest brother, Sen. Isiaka Adeleke who was a former governor of Osun State in 2017. The death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke brought the entire state to a standstill, for some moments. He was more than just an ex-governor, he was the heir of the late Chief Ayoola Raji Adeleke. And before our lips could mutter ABC, the America returnee, Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke converted the sympathy that trailed the death of their brother to electoral value. He contested and came out victorious, he was voted in, to the red chamber. But like the saying goes: lies can get you the job, but it won't get it done. 
Adeleke was a senator between 2017 to 2019, and all he was known for was dancing. Dancing is a hobby, everyone has at least one. But Ademola Adeleke's incessant unnecessary attempt to trivialize critical issues earned him the appellation "Dancing Senator" that still did not bother him. 
The Dancing Senator, Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke who is currently the flag bearer of the PDP in the Osun gubernatorial election is so vague that the only thing an average indigene of Osun knows about him, aside being a family member of Adeleke is that he dances. No known career path, skills set, former place of work, his business, academic profile or at least things he spent his early life doing before politics. His message for the Osun people has always been about the family owned wealth.
As an indigene of Osun State and a top fan of Davido, I have huge respect for the Adeleke family so much that if this was not an issue of great importance, may be, sentiment would have worked against my mind. 
For a fact, evident enough, Adeleke family is disrespecting the good people of Osun by robbing the candidacy of a man like Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke on the faces of over 5million population. Ademola Adeleke is that grown baby the family has; little wonder, he still receives allowance for upkeep, his life is still being managed or mismanaged by his brother, Deji Adeleke and his sister, Chief (Mrs) Modupeola Adeleke-Sanni. Yet, he's being pushed, guarded, padded, paddled, propelled, wheeled, tossed to govern Osun State, a State already left in comatose by the APC government. We honestly need to ask the Adeleke family, what our crime is, to deserve this humiliation. And now, out of frustration experienced by Osun people due to the misrule of the APC government, Adeleke is appearing as though an ugly bride with a cosmetics of so much sophistry. 
"Money does it all" dictum is on the verge of materializing in Osun 2022 election which is less than 14days away. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke has brought dollars and pounds to buy votes. Osun is on the table of negotiation, Sen. Ademola Adeleke has challenged his counterparts in the race to become the next governor to a fight of who has the fattest wallet, in a battle where who with the superior idea should be what matters. They're 15 candidates in the race, if the people of Osun don't look beyond Adeleke as a substitute for Oyetola, it would be the greatest undoing of the Osun people. 
His Excellency Isiaka Oyetola may have failed, but facts have it that the entire life of Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke is a failure. From inconsistency in his academic record to a very funny, unclear career path. Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke oozes unadulterated mediocrity from the pit of emptiness. 
Osun should not make the costly mistake of electing Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke , the State should rather recommend him to his family members  for an employment, to help him kickstart a career that will afford him the opportunity to learn on job, and not learn with our dear Osun State.

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The Education Right Campaign has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on strike and pick a day for a national protest to force the Nigerian government to meet the demands of university-based unions.
This was contained in a press statement by ERC’s Deputy National Coordinator, Ogunjimi Isaac Ayobami, and ERC National Secretary, Michael Lenin, on Saturday.

The statement was titled, ‘ASUU Strike: NLC’S Constant Threat To Embark On A Solidarity Action With ASUU, SSANU, NASU And NAAT Without Actually Taking Any Practical Step Is A Disservice To Long-suffering Students’.
According to the group, a one-day solidarity action should be the starting point of a series of mass actions until the government is compelled to meet all the demands of the unions and agrees to fund public education adequately.
It read in part, “For the umpteenth time, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on a one-day solidarity action with striking education workers unions (ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT). This was revealed on Thursday, 30 June 2022 by Ayuba Wabba, NLC president at the opening of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the congress. The NLC president also revealed that all affiliates have been instructed to issue the mandatory notice from next week.
“We in the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) welcome this pronouncement while urging the NLC leadership to ensure this goes beyond another mere verbal threat. However, we call on the NLC, together with the TUC, not to limit the action to only a national protest but also to match it with a 24-hour warning general strike, and begin the immediate preparation and mobilization for the action across all its affiliates as well as civil society partners through public meetings, leafletting and rallies. We specifically call for the convening of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) to draw in as many pro-working class, socialist, students, youth and activist groups as possible to aid the preparation for the solidarity action.
“However despite welcoming this new declaration, we have to note that this is not the first time the NLC has issued a threat of solidarity action over the current shutdown of the nation’s public universities. Specifically in April this year, the NLC had issued a 21-day notice with a threat to embark on a national strike unless the government convened a high-powered panel chaired by the SGF or the Chief of Staff to resolve the lingering dispute between the FG and ASUU. Not only was nothing heard from the NLC again at the expiration of the 21-day notice, even the nationwide protests which the NLC declared would be held within the subsisting 21-day ultimatum never materialized. No explanation was given by the NLC leadership to thousands of Nigerian students who were already looking towards the NLC for leadership in their quest to put an end to the shutdown of the universities. Just complete silence!
“Sadly, the strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is now in its fifth month while other unions are either in the fourth or third months of their strikes respectively. That the shutdown of the country’s public universities has become this prolonged in a country which can boast of one of the strongest labour movements on the continent is an indictment of the leadership of the two labour centres who have been wielding the strike weapon as a verbal threat meant to simply appeal to the good senses of the Federal Government rather than as a militant declaration of action to defend the interest of public education. 
“It is a fact that the labour leadership has been toeing a ponderously formalistic, slow, unhurried and illusory approach bordering on constantly seeking more and more dialogue with a Federal Government which has convinced every part of society that not only does it not have any iota of interest in the ongoing strike of ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT, it also has no concern for the future of the nation’s youth wasting away. While the leadership of the labour movement issued the initial strike threat in April, the government carried on as usual with the two key ministers in charge of the strike negotiation, the Labour minister Ngige and the Minister of State for Education, Nwajiuba, going ahead to abandon their duty post in order to vie in the primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to contest for president. The moment these two ministers, who had for months been coaching the striking unions about how Nigeria is too cash-strapped to fund their demands, produced 100 million naira apiece to procure the presidential nomination forms of the APC ought to have been the signal for any serious labour leadership with any modicum of class dignity to pull out of negotiation and call a general strike to shut down the government of deceit.
“Therefore in our opinion, the main reason why the shutdown of the nation’s universities has become prolonged is not simply, as noted by the NLC President Ayuba Wabba, due to the intransigence of President Buhari's capitalist government. An additional factor is the foot-dragging, ponderously formalistic and barren approach of the leadership of the labour movement which does not seem to appreciate the agony and pain of students whose lives are wasting away at home. Just a one-day nationwide general strike and mass protest by the NLC and TUC calling on the Federal Government to meet the demands of the striking unions or risk a more comprehensive action can act as a lever to compel the government to grant some concessions. 
What is clear so far in the negotiation of the unions with the FG is that the only language the capitalist ruling elite understands is that of militant struggle. Students are already tired and frustrated, and this could predispose some of them to engage in different social vices. This is one of the reasons why it is crucial that the NLC leadership ensures that this current strike threat is translated into reality.
“We however urge that this one-day solidarity action should be the starting point of a series of mass actions until the government is compelled to meet all the demands of the unions and agrees to fund public education adequately. As we have constantly argued, Nigeria is rich enough not only to fund public education adequately but also to provide free, functional and democratically-run education at all levels. The only reason this is not the case is capitalism and the pro-rich and anti-poor policies supported by the major parties of capitalism like the APC, PDP, APGA and all others. Ultimately, we need to build a mass workers' party with Socialist programmes to take political power and put the commanding heights of Nigeria’s economy under democratic workers' control and management in order to make available resources, which are currently cornered by a tiny rich elite and corporations, to fund public education, healthcare and other social services.” 

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The Ekiti State Police Command says it has arrested the Sarkin Fulani in the state and chieftain of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Abashe Adamu and a former councillor in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Ibrahim Mumini for allegedly masterminding a series of kidnappings in the state.
Mumini is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The spokesman for the command, Sunday Abutu in a statement said the suspects were arrested in Ido-Ekiti on June 29, 2022, by operatives of the Command Rapid Response Squad.
The duo were alleged to have coordinated numerous high-profile kidnappings in Ekiti, including the kidnapping of one Adeeko Ademola and Nasiru Salisu at Adamsy Sawmill, Aisegba-Ekiti in Gbonyin local government area of the state.
He said, “The duo coordinated numerous high-profile kidnappings in Ekiti including the kidnapping of one Adeeko Ademola and Nasiru Salisu at Adamsy Sawmill, Aisegba-Ekiti.
“During interrogation, Ibrahim Mumini Toyin confessed to the commission of the crime and claimed that the dastardly act of kidnapping and murder of one of the two victims was carried out by himself and four (4) others who are children of Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris and are currently at large.
“He further confessed that Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris is their kingpin, adding that the ransom collected from their victims was used to purchase cattle by Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris to increase his herd of cattle.
“Ibrahim Mumini Toyin disclosed that his own share of the ransom allegedly paid was used to purchase cattle for him by Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris.”
The police spokesman added that the suspects would be arraigned after the conclusion of investigations.
In recent months, Ekiti has witnessed cases of kidnapping.
On June 22, 2022, a retired Chief Pharmacist with the Ekiti Ministry of Health, Israel Bamisaye, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on his farm.

 

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Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the recent allegations levelled against the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Buratai Tukur (Rtd).
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered N1.85 billion from a house registered to someone fronting for Buratai.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.
SaharaReporters gathered that the huge cash was part of the billions of naira earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
 
Buratai, despite denials by his lawyer and other faceless individuals, already admitted to a newspaper that the property was his and no search warrant was obtained before it was raided.
 
In a statement on Sunday, PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, said Buratai should be probed over his alleged connection with the cash found in the Abuja property.
He said the demand for the investigation of the ex-service chief is predicated on the earlier assertion by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno, after the exit of Buratai as COAS that the $1bn drawn from the national coffers under the APC administration for the purchase of arms to fight terrorism could not be traced.

See Also Sahara Reporters PHOTOS: Safe With Foreign Currencies, Posh Vehicles Recovered From Ex-Army Chief, Buratai 0 Comments 1 Week Ago
The opposition party also said reports of massive looting by APC leaders and their cronies in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies further confirm the administration “as a haven for treasury looters”.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Covered Up For Ex-Army Chief, Buratai, Failed To Submit Funds To Central Bank, To Secretly Move Cash From Facility 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago
“Moreover, the recently exposed looting of N80bn by the suspended Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, which investigation has now gone cold is suspected to have been engineered by the cabal at very high level of the APC administration.”

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Anti-corruption Agency, ICPC Finally Opens Second Box Found In Ex-Army Chief, Buratai's Property, Finds Additional $170,0000, £85,000, €54,000 Stashed Inside 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago
The PDP insisted that Buratai should return to the country and personally face an investigation to clear his name.

“This is because any allegation bordering on looting of funds meant for the fight against terrorism is of grave national concern and consequence. It must be thoroughly investigated and anybody found wanting must be made to face the full weight of the law no matter how highly placed,” the party said.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Meant For Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram In Abuja Home Of Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

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A viral video has shown the member representing Igueben constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Ephraim Aluebhosele, physically assaulting a journalist with Naija Watch, Leftist Aimuaewonso.
 
The assault happened while the journalist was interviewing the lawmaker to find out the action being taken to fix an abandoned road in his constituency.

Aluebhosele, however, got angry during the interview, descending on Aimuaewonso with punches and kicks.
 
SaharaReporters learnt that the journalist sustained varying degrees of injury after the attack and assault by the lawmaker and some of his aides.
 
“You, you’re being sent by someone to malign the government or the member representing the constituency. Be fair in your reporting, don’t do yellow journalism. You are from Benin,” the lawmaker said.
He accused the journalist of inciting the public against the government before he and his aides physically assaulted him.
“Where are you from in Benin? And so f****** what? They sponsored you to come and fight us. I’m talking to you, you are telling me rubbish. Who are you? Wetin you come do you (What did you come to do)? Who carry you come here (Who brought you here)? Who sent you here,” the lawmaker was heard saying while brutalising and physically assaulting the journalist.
 
Known to be a violent person, Aluebhosele was one of the nine lawmakers who illegally impeached the then Assembly Speaker, Francis Okiye from office.
 
He also moved a motion to nominate the new speaker.
 
In 2019, Aluebhosele caused a stir online after photos of him at the House inauguration wearing shorts went viral.

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Two Catholic priests, Rev. Father Udo of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Uromi and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha, have been kidnapped by gunmen.
The duo were abducted along Benin-Auchi Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen communities on Saturday night, the state police command said on Sunday.

The police statement signed by the spokesperson for the state command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said, “This is to confirm the kidnap of two Catholic Rev. Fathers; Rev. Fr. Udo Peter of St. Patrick Catholic Church Uromi and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha in Esan South East LGA of Edo State.
 
“The Edo State Police Command was informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer, Ugboha, Edo State, that on Sunday, July 3, 2022, one Rev. Father Amos Abhulimen of St. Dominic Catholic Church Ugboha, reported that he was informed by the Catholic authority via WhatsApp that the above-named Catholic Rev. Fathers were attacked, kidnapped and taken to unknown place by some kidnappers along Benin-Auchi Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen Communities.
“Immediately, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, dispatched policemen to the area to carry out aggressive and well-coordinated manhunt in arresting the kidnappers as well as rescue the Rev. Fathers unhurt.”
Sadly, last Sunday, some gunmen killed Rev. Fr Christopher Odia, the priest in charge of St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo, in the Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Odia was abducted from his home while he preparing to leave for mass.
The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, in a statement last Sunday confirmed that the cleric had been killed.
The statement said, “With heavy hearts but with total submission to the will` of God, we announce the death of our priest Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, who was killed by his abductors after being kidnapped this morning, June 26, 2022, around 6.30 am in his rectory while coming out to go for Sunday mass at St. Michael Catholic Church Ikabigbo, Uzairue, Edo State.”
 
Also about a week ago, gunmen suspected to be terrorists, killed a 50-year-old Catholic priest in Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Vitus Borogo.
The Kaduna-based cleric was killed by the terrorists during a raid on a farm known as Prison Farm at Kujama, along the Kaduna-Kachia Road.
Rev. Fr. Christian Emmanuel, the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, in a statement, said, “It is with a heavy heart, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the death of Rev. Fr. Vitus Borogo, which sad event took place today (Saturday), at Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia Road, after a raid on the farm by terrorists.”
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, some terrorists stormed St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State during service, killing about 40 congregants.
Many congregants were also injured during the deadly attack.
Attacks on churches and priests across the country by suspected terrorists seem to be on the increase even though President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has repeatedly denied that Christians are being targeted by Islamic jihadists in the country.

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The Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly, COSMBYLA, has slammed the Nigerian Government for the reintroduction of the rejected Water Resources Bill in the National Assembly, describing it as wicked, vexatious and obnoxious.
 
It said the bill has an intended agenda to annex land for Fulani Jihadists in southern Nigeria while calling on the Southern and Christian lawmakers in the National Assembly to reject the bill as many times as the sponsors smuggle it into the House.

COSMBYLA said this in a statement on Sunday, signed by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem; Coordinator, Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents, Terrence Kuanum; Coordinator, South West Youth Leaders Forum (SWYLF), Shittu Waheed; and President, South-South Youth Forum (SSYF), Tito Zokumor.
 
The statement titled, “Reintroduced Water Resources Bill Obnoxious, Wicked, Repugnant And Vexatious," alleged that the bill is part of the move by President Muhammadu Buhari to advance the ‘Fulanisation’ and ‘Islamization’ agenda in the country.
 
It also alleged that bill is a well-calculated plot to acquire land for Fulani jihadists to live, which will serve as a base to launch attacks on the Southern part of the country.
 
The statement read in part, "The reintroduction of the obnoxious Water Resources Bill is a confirmation that President Muhammadu Buhari sees Nigerians as fools and people without brains who he can manipulate, kill and impose his will whenever or anyhow he wants.
 
"The continuous reintroduction of the obnoxious and vexatious bill confirms to Nigerians that it is a wicked bomb packaged by Buhari's regime to kill the remaining Nigerians that escaped the sword of the rampaging Fulani terrorists parading as herdsmen in the country.
 
"Nigerians are dying of hunger and starvation on a daily basis as a result of the high cost of food, high cost of kerosene sold at N900 per litre and diesel for N1,000 per litre and the only thing President Buhari will do is to reintroduce the obnoxious Water Resources Bill. Can the bill put food on the table of Nigerians? The answer is no. Rather the bill cannot only create a simple avenue for the Fulani jihadists to kill more Nigerians in order to take their land.
 
"Nigerians are killed on a daily basis like fowls by Fulani jihadists parading as herdsmen and the President is calm without doing anything to stop the carnage. The only thing that the President is interested in, is only how to annex the lands of indigenous Nigerians through the backdoor using the Water Resources Bill as a shield to annex land unlawfully for his Fulani kinsmen."
 
It further reads, "From all indications, the said Water Resources Bill is a bill simply to promote Mr President's Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda which he promised his kinsmen to actualise.
 
"The body language of President Muhammadu Buhari shows that he is ready to kill all indigenous Nigerians in other to achieve this Ill-fated and undemocratic evil and barbaric agenda but his evil plot is dead on arrival. We reject this anti-people bill with all our energy and strength.
 
"The reintroduction of the obnoxious Water Resources Bill is a big insult to dead Nigerians killed by Fulani terrorists parading as herdsmen and we will not accept such insolence on our people.
 
"We, therefore, call on the National Assembly comprising of the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives to reject the obnoxious Water Resources Bill immediately without any delay.
 
"We elected them to represent us and our collective will and desire must be respected. We say a big ‘NO’ to the reintroduced Water Resources Bill. We reject it in totality. Enough said," the statement adds.
 

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The Anambra Police Command says a 14-year-old girl, Ijeoma Nwafor, was pushed by a woman, identified as Mrs Onwanna Nnenna. 

The incident was said to have happened late on Saturday at Otu Street, Awada, Onitsha.

The victim survived the jump, but with serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

It was learnt that Nnenna was fond of beating Ijeoma, her home help, at every slightest opportunity.

The state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga in a statement said the girl was pushed down by her guardian and tagged it a case of attempted murder.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Operatives on 2/7/2022 have arrested one Mrs Onwanna Nnenna F age 29yrs old from Nando, Anambra East on a case of attempted murder that happened at Otu street, Awada Onitsha.

“Preliminary information shows that the victim, one Miss Ijeoma Nwafor F, 14-year-old, a native of Achalla was pushed down from a four-storey building by the suspect, when she was beating her. Other details reveal that the victim is a house help to the suspect.

“Meanwhile, Mrs Nnenna is currently in police custody and the victim, receiving treatment in a hospital. Further development shall be communicated please.” 

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Seven inmates of the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, Rivers State, have received certificates following their graduation from the National Open University of Nigeria.
Two of them graduated with second-class upper degrees while the remaining five had second-class lower degrees.

NewsDiary

The inmates were part of those who graduated in the 2021/2022 academic session in March 2022 but could not join their colleagues for convocation due to incarceration, PUNCH reports.
The Registrar of the school, Felix Edoka, who handed certificates to the inmates at the correctional centre located along Dockyard Road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said the university programmes are free for inmates.
He said, “Today we are handing over certificates to seven inmates who have graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria.
“Among this number, we have two inmates that made Second Class Upper. The remaining five made Second Class Lower.
“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to those in incarceration that are yet to fill out our forms to do so. The purpose of getting the university to the correctional centre is to ensure that we provide opportunities for those who want to develop themselves.
“So that by the time you get out of this place, hopefully, there will be no difference between you and those outside. To make this possible, the university is granting this education to you people (inmates) free of charge.”
Earlier, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, Etim Effiong, commended the school for bringing university education to the facility, saying inmates should not be denied the chance to pursue their educational cream because of their incarceration.
“Your being here is not a barrier. You can be in a facility like ours, you can be in confinement and pursue your educational goals even to doctorate degree levels.
“Not only has NOUN brought this to us here, they facilitate and encourage us and provide all the equipment needed for this to be achieved,” he said.
The deputy controller said preferences are being given to inmates who are studying, saying, “I have ordered that those who are in schools should be opened early. I have given them special privileges, including meals.”
Benson Luck, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of human resources, advised against stigmatising ex-convicts.
According to Luck, ex-convicts should be encouraged to acquire the skills needed to reintegrate into society and given support to make contributions.
He said, “Incarceration is not to deny you of the opportunity to be educated. When they are discharged eventually, it is still our duty to reintegrate them into society.
“If they have acquired this education and you stigmatise them, there is every tendency that they will draw back.
“They will not give out all that is in them. So, I want to pray all of us gathered here to encourage them even within here and outside this place so that the education they have acquired will actually be beneficial to you and me.”

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has written to the heads of governments in the West African region, urging them to adopt to unite against dictators who seek to amend and manipulate their national constitutions to elongate their terms of office.
Falana in the letter written to the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) asked the leaders to “swiftly adopt the proposed amendment (on term limit) to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and to improve respect for human rights and the rule of law.

It urged them to resist reported attempts by rogue states – Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo – to truncate the proposed amendment to the protocol.
The letter signed by the senior lawyer is dated June 29, 2022, and titled, ‘Re: Request to swiftly adopt the proposed amendment (on term limit) to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and to improve respect for human rights and the rule of law’.
He commended the “progressive steps taken by the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to amend the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (the protocol)” while urging them to “adopt the proposed amendment to the protocol to strengthen constitutional and representative government, and improve respect for human rights and the rule of law”.
The letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, reads in part, “According to my information, the move to amend the protocol aims at ensuring that Heads of State and Government do not change the constitutions of their countries to stay beyond two terms in office, which is the common constitutional requirement in several member states.
“The proposed amendment would require member states to ‘adopt provisions in their respective Constitutions to ensure that no President of the Republic shall exercise more than two (2) terms or extend his/her term for any reason or in any form’.
“I am concerned about reports that Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo are opposing the progressive amendment to the protocol.
“It is very important for the majority of member states to reject the moves by the minority member states, and to show the leadership and political will by swiftly adopting the amendment to the protocol as currently proposed, especially given the recent experiences of unconstitutional change of governments in some African countries.
“The proposed amendment to the protocol on term limit is entirely consistent with the ECOWAS foundational treaties, and the African Union Constitutive Act. The timely amendment will be a positive, effective and satisfactory response to the recent unconstitutional change of governments in some member states.
“As the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (African Charter) states, unconstitutional change of government amounts to ‘a serious threat to stability, peace, security and development.’
“The African Charter indeed aims to ‘promote the universal values and principles of democracy, good governance, human rights and the right to development,’ and to ‘entrench in the Continent a political culture of change of power based on the holding of regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies.’
“Many member states of ECOWAS, including Côte d’Ivoire and Togo have ratified the African Charter while Senegal has signed the African Charter. The ECOWAS and its members should show that they are willing and able to promote and achieve constitutional and representative government and improve respect for the rule of law and human rights in the sub-region.
“Rejecting the reported moves by Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo to truncate the proposed amendment to the protocol would send a powerful message to rogue governments in the sub-region that the ECOWAS is willing and able to apply its foundational instruments and principles faithfully, consistently, and effectively.
“If the reported moves by Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo are allowed, it will encourage dictators who seek to amend and manipulate their national constitutions to elongate their terms of office. It will also lead to escalating attacks on political opponents and activists who oppose such illegal constitutional amendment.
“I, therefore, urge member states of the ECOWAS to remain resolute in the face of opposition by a minority of member states and to move swiftly to adopt the proposed amendment on term limit to the protocol. If necessary, member states may invoke Article 20 of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Heads of State and Government to ensure that the amendment to the protocol is adopted without any delay.
“I also urge you to use your leadership and influence to push for democracy and full respect for human rights and the rule of law in member states. The ECOWAS leadership should put pressure on all ECOWAS member states to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human and peoples’ rights guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
 

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