The management of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi has confirmed SaharaReporters' report, which said t suspended Raliya Moh’d Kashim, one of its staff members, for posting the picture of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate on her WhatsApp status. 

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Kashim was suspended for allegedly posting the picture of the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar (rtd) on her WhatsApp status.

The state governor, Bala Mohammed, belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. 

Her suspension was contained in a letter dated June 14, 2022, and signed by the registrar of institution, Abdulahi Adamu.

Reacting in a statement, the school said Kashim was suspended in line with public service rule which prohibits public officers from engaging in partisan politics.

The statement reads, The attention of the management of Abubakar Tatari All Polytechnic Bauchi has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters in respect of a staff of the institution, Mrs Raliya Mohammed Kashim, that the Governor of Bauchi state ordered her suspension for Posting videos containing campaign materials of the APC gubernatorial candidate of Bauchi state and its presidential Candidate on her WhatsApp Status

"Management determined the action as inappropriate and a clear violation of the public service rule 1.4.1.9 which prohibits public officers engaging in partisan politics. The action taken by management against the employee in question was consequent upon the above. 

"Any attempt by anybody to allude any motive from any quarters is a cheap attempt to store political gains. For the avoidance of doubt and for the information of the general public especially the good people of Bauchi State, management of Abubakar Tatari Ati Polytechnic Bauchi wishes to state categorically that the institution is a professional entity governed by rules and regulations and having achieved this feat it shall leave no stone unturned in its determination to ensure that all its employers maintain highest level of professionalism and respect for the laws of the institution and the

"Finally, management wishes to assure the general public that there will not be any sacred cow and that actions have consequences and it shall not be intimidated by the political jobbers, fifth columnists and enemies of the state."  

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Sani Toro

The kidnappers of former Nigeria Football Association Secretary-General, Sani Toro have demanded a ransom of N150 million. 

A source close to the family disclosed this to SaharaReporters on Sunday. 

Sani Toro

It was earlier reported that the former NFA (now NFF) official was kidnapped on Saturday night on Abuja-Jos Road alongside a former Golden Eaglets' assistant coach, Garba Iliya.
It was learnt that one of their friends, Alhaji Isa Jah was also kidnapped. 

See Also Insecurity Suspected Terrorists Kidnap Former Nigeria Football Association Secretary-General, Sani Toro 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

The abductees were on their way back to Bauchi after attending the wedding of the son of a former Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari in Abuja on Friday.

The source said, "The kidnappers have reached out to the family of the former Secretary-General of the NFA, they are demanding a ransom of N150 million," the source said. 

A football stakeholder in Bauchi State who is a close friend of the abductees had told Daily Trust that the kidnappers had yet to contact the families of the victims.

“It is true they were abducted close to Ryom in Plateau State when they were returning to Bauchi from Abuja.

“They had attended the wedding Fatiha of the son of Alhaji Aminu Maigari at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday.

"I have been in touch with their family members. Those who kidnapped them are yet to contact the families.

“We are all praying and hoping in earnest that Allah will intervene in the unfortunate situation and they would be released unharmed,” he had said.

Mr Sani is a former Commissioner of Sports in Bauchi State and once a member of the House of Representatives. He served as the Secretary-General of the then NFA between 1993 to 1999.

During his tenure, the Super Eagles won their second AFCON title in 1994 in Tunisia, made their senior World Cup debut in the USA the same year, won gold at Atlanta 1996 Olympics Games and made their second World Cup appearance in France 1998.

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Hoodlums have attacked the convoy of the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu in Lagos State. 
Tinubu, according to a report by AIT, was attacked at the Adeniji end of Isale Eko after the former Lagos governor paid a visit to the Oba of Lagos.

Tinubu was heading to his Bourdillon Avenue, Ikoyi residence from the palace.
According to the report, the hoodlums who were wielding swords and cutlasses, threw stones at the convoy as it drove from the palace. They also smashed side glasses and front windshields of vehicles in the convoy.

Though Tinubu was not affected by the attack, the bus conveying journalists and the backup security car on the convoy were the most affected. 
Two journalists who sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention.
The former Lagos State Governor arrived in Lagos on Sunday after the Ekiti State governorship election and was received at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja before proceeding to the palace of the Oba of Lagos.

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Students of the Kaduna State College of Education have cried to the state government over the horrible state of infrastructure, high tuition and inadequacy of lecturers in the school.  
Lamenting the ordeal of the students of the college, the President of the Students' Union, Gidan Waya Chapter, Danladi Louis Ninyio, in a letter to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, which was made available to SaharaReporters, said the institution has no good access Roads.

The students' union leader said many students of the college are on the verge of dropping out as they are finding it extremely difficult to keep up with paying the exorbitant tuition fees of the school while also struggling with the high house rent charged by landlords in the area.
According to him, the high tuition fees coupled with rent are two factors that have succeeded in sending students of the institution back home while the newly admitted students can't even come for registration.
Ninyio maintained that it is unfair for the state government to abandon the college in such a manner despite having the largest community of students in Southern Kaduna and being the highest source of revenue generation for the government in the region.  
The student union president said, “It is with great displeasure that I write this to draw the attention of the Kaduna State Government, necessary stakeholders, NGOs/INGOs and Alumni to the sorry state of the dilapidated infrastructure of the Kaduna State College of Education. 
“It is worthy to note that the college is the largest community of students in  Southern Kaduna. However, we won't be wrong to say it happens to be the most underdeveloped institution despite being the highest source of revenue generation for the government in the region."
"Despite the outrageous amount paid by students as tuition fees compared to other institutions, the sorry state of the institution” is obvious with the lack of good access road to the school environment, he said. 
He noted that the abandoned hostels and road projects were awarded over ten years ago “but the projects have not gone beyond this point since then.” 
Ninyio pointed out that “the hostel is one area that needs urgent attention due to the skyrocketing rent by landlords, making it very difficult for students who could barely afford to pay their tuition fees to raise money for their rent. 
“This is not farfetched from the fact that most of the students are the ones sponsoring themselves in school while the parents of a huge number of the students are peasant farmers who manage to sell their farm produce to send their wards to school despite the high amount they have to pay for tuition fees coupled with the rent. 
“The high tuition fees coupled with rent are two factors that have succeeded in sending students of the institution back home while the newly admitted students can't even come for registration."
He noted that the former South African President and hero, Nelson Mandela once said that "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." 
Also reminding the state government of the need for urgent action on the college and the need to give priority to education in the state, Ninyio quoted Malala Yousafzai, saying, "With guns you can kill a terrorist, with education you can kill terrorism." 
According to him, “If the assertions of these individuals are anything to go by, then the actions and inactions of the government and other relevant bodies are a ticking time bomb capable of not only posing threat to the region alone but to humanity at large.”
He, therefore, lamented that inadequate lecture theatres, laboratories, ICT facilities and equipment and study materials in the libraries cannot be over-emphasised as the ones available are either not functioning or outdated.
“The Union is hereby calling on the state government, stakeholders, noble sons and daughters of the state and especially of Southern Kaduna, NGOs and INGOs to come to the rescue of the institution and its students,” he added. 

 

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A Nigerian professor based in the US, Godwin Sadoh has insisted that Prof. Afolabi Oladapo, a former Ag. Pro-Chancellor of the Technical University, Ibadan and the school owe him (Sadoh) 40 months of unpaid salary arrears amid other allegations. 
Recall that Sadoh, in a disclaimer issued some months ago, said he was recruited from the United States under the Nigerians in Diaspora Scheme to assist in creating a music programme that would be rooted in 21st-century music technology, for the university, which was under construction at the time.

He added that Afolabi conscripted him to create the academic programme for all the departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences, from the first year to the fourth year, including the intensive summer curricula.  
 
Sadoh said he was to be paid $10,000 monthly, but this was later reduced to $5,000 monthly in June 2013. He added that Afolabi assured him that the university leadership at the time, would provide him with a suitable accommodation and a new car viz a viz the LEADS Scholar program, and most importantly, as a foundation academic staff member of the university. 
However, Prof. Afolabi allegedly defaulted in the payment of all the salaries, allowances, transportation and accommodation while the National University Commission (NUC) kept to its part of the bargain, Sadoh said.
Reacting in a statement, the University dissociated itself from claims made by Sadoh. Akeem Lasisi, the university's public relations officer debunked the allegations, stating that Sadoh's claims could not be verified.
 
According to the PRO, the US-based professor had earlier sent a letter to the First Technical University, however, a search of the available records did not yield any evidence of his assumption of duty.
In a recent development, Sadoh told SaharaReporters that he was indeed appointed by the NUC as a LEADS Scholar to serve at the University with documents to support his claims. 
Sadoh said all the current members of staff at the University had yet to be recruited into the workforce at the time of his appointment (2013-2016).
The US-based Professor, however, noted that he had expected the university to contact Prof. Afolabi and the NUC to verify that he worked for the school as all the current staff members were employed after he had left.
He said, “I was appointed by NUC as a LEADS Scholar to serve at Tech-U, Ibadan (See the attached first letter of my appointment). 
“Prof. Afolabi was the one who assigned me duties in the capacity of Ag. Pro-Chancellor at the time. All the present staff at the school were not yet hired when I worked there at the advent of the school (2013-2016). 
“They were hired after I had left. When this saga began, the management of the school was supposed to first consult with Prof. Afolabi and NUC for verification of my claims, especially, that I worked for the school and confirmation that NUC issued me three contracts. 
“But the management of Tech-U did not do so before going out to the press. Also, note that my services to the school predate the appointment of all the current staff at the school. 
“Hence, they don't know me. The attached letter of Prof. Afolabi written and signed by him confirms my engagement at the institution."
His appointment as a LEADS Scholar was contained in a letter shared with SaharaReporters dated June 12, 2013, and signed by C.J Maiyaki, the then-Chief of Staff to the Executive Secretary of the Leads Committee.
Another letter dated July 15, 2014, signed by Afolabi and addressed to Julius Okojie, the then Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commissions (NUC), requested the renewal of Sadoh's LEADS Scholar contract. 
When SaharaReporters contacted Professor Afolabi, he explained that he had only helped Professor Sadoh who was recommended by his (Sadoh's) elder sister, a former colleague. 
Afolabi said in a bid to assist the academic, he wrote to the NUC to recruit Sadoh to the new LEADS Scholar's programme for a year and Sadoh was paid accordingly by the Commission. He said for the period of one year, the University had not developed at all and Sadoh never did any work for the institution but was still paid.
He also debunked Sadoh's claims that he promised to make provision for accommodation and transportation, noting that he gave Sadoh his flat to stay and the latter extended his stay as he could not afford to raise the rent. 
Afolabi said, “I only helped Sadoh and he has decided to blackmail me. This boy called Sadoh, I don't know where he is now, he is a fugitive. At the time he was introduced to me, I was then the pro-Chancellor of the Technical University, Ibadan. 
“We had nothing on the ground, all that we had was to come together and have an idea of how to overcome the problems of Nigerian University. It was his elder sister that had worked with me before when I was Director. 
“She said her brother is in Nigeria, has nothing to do and is a professor of music, and we did not check his papers. Based on his sister's good reputation, we said come and be part of what we're doing. 
“We paid him a sitting allowance, many big names were there, many Vice-Chancellors were there, he was not even qualified to be there but we allowed him. 
"At that time, I approached NUC to accept him but they said he must have come from a University that will recommend him for work. I wrote to NUC, and they gave him one year. During the one year, he didn't step on the ground of the University for one day because there was nobody there, NUC was paying $2,500 every month. 
“Nobody promised him any car or anything, he was just dreaming. He has been blackmailing me all over. I was magnanimous enough, I was just pitying him, I gave him a flat to stay in. He refused to leave the flat after five years, I had to sell the flat, and he fought the landlord when he had no money to pay. 
“How can you be so qualified and not have a job? If he was qualified, why does he have no job? Let him show you the music he said he wrote, I didn't use it in the University. 
“I only helped this man and he has been blackmailing me. If he is so aggrieved, let him go to court. Let him go to court, and show all the evidence there. It's not fair, I helped him."

DOCUMNET : Oyo Technical Varsity Owes Me 40 Months Salary Arrears — US-based Nigerian Professor, Godwin S... by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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Exactly two weeks after terrorists attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State in the Southwest region of Nigeria, terrorists on Sunday attacked another Catholic Church in Kaduna State in the North-West region of the country.
The armed terrorists invaded St. Moses Catholic Church in Robuh, Unguwan Aku, Kajuru Local Government Area of the state as the church was rounding off its first mass. 

The terrorists killed three worshippers and abducted many others. 
Several others sustained various degrees of injuries. 
According to LEADERSHIP, the terrorists stormed the church in large numbers and opened fire on the worshippers, during which three persons were killed before they kidnapped a yet-to-be-confirmed number of worshippers. 
The report noted that one of the victims was rushed to St. Gerald Catholic Hospital in the state.
The Sunday, June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state left no fewer than 40 congregants dead and several others injured.
Similarly, many communities in Kaduna state, especially in Kaduna South have been under recurring attacks, killings, abduction of persons and cattle rustling. 

ASP Mohammed Jalige, the spokesperson for the state police command told SaharaReporters he would confirm and get back to our correspondent. However, he had not done so at the time of filing this report and he did not reply to a reminder sent to him. 
 

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Followers of the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday defied a directive of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga, to stop attending Mbaka's church.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Bishop Onaga on Saturday in a pastoral injunction on attendance to Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu, enjoined all Catholics to stop visiting the ministry till further notice.

It reported that the bishop advised the Catholic faithful to also pray for Mbaka.
Onaga had "in the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu; capable of undermining the Catholic faith and teachings; and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions to Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry; and after having given him pastoral directives and guidelines for the Ministry Chaplaincy, which he persistently violated; and in fulfilment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd with the obligation to promote and safeguard the Catholic faith and
morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is
concluded.
"My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church."
However, in defiance of the Prohibition, hundreds of Mbaka's admirers thronged the Adoration ground in protest against the bishop's directive.
Most of the followers who were with green leaves matched round the Adoration ground. 
In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, they could be heard calling for the removal of Bishop Onaga.
One of them said, "It is Bishop Onaga that should be suspended and not Fr Ejike Mbaka."
Meanwhile, a human rights organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has described the suspension order of the bishop as illegal and "a grave attack on the constitutional right of freedom of religion, worship and association."
A statement issued on Sunday by its President, Comrade Olu Omotayo, called on Enugu Catholic Diocese to retrace its steps from this dangerous incursion into politics and allow people to worship where they like.

The statement is titled, "Closure Of Adoration Worshipping Center Is A Grave Attack On The Constitutional Right Of Freedom Of Religion, Worship And Association Of Millions Of Nigerians Worshipping Thereat."
It reads in part, "We condemn without equivocation the closure of Adoration Prayer Center, Enugu, which has over the years served as a place of succour for millions of Christians both Catholics and non-Catholics. The decision of the Enugu Catholic Diocese though targeted at the Presiding Priest Rev Fr C. Ejike Mbaka, for his remarks against Mr. Peter Obi, is a grave violation of the Right to Freedom of Worship and Religion of millions of faithful who converge at the center for prayers on a daily basis.
"It would be recalled that the right to freedom of worship is gradually being eroded by religious bodies in Nigeria considering the incident in Abuja when Sheikh Khalid the Imam of Apo Juma’at mosque was removed because of his harsh statement against the President Buhari-led Federal Government.
"The events unfolding in Enugu, where justification is being found to justify the ban by Bishop on Catholics worshipping at Adoration ground because of Fr Mbaka's statement against Peter Obi, is not only unconstitutional, it's an attack on the Rule of Law, Freedom of Worship and Religion and taking the country back to the medieval time.
"It would be recalled that during the Abuja incident on the removal of Sheikh Khalid nobody cited Quranic injunctions that Muslims should respect and obey leaders in authority in order to justify the unlawful removal of the Imam but the removal was roundly condemned by all including Muslims and Christians, so the Enugu incident should be roundly condemned.
"It would also be recalled that Father Mbaka was only admonished and Adoration services suspended for weeks some months ago because he criticized the Federal Government, which we all condemned."
It added, "We submit that for anybody to hide under Canon law and close down where millions of faithful worship because the Presiding Priest made a harsh statement against Peter Obi is not only a grave violation of Freedom of speech and association of the priest but a grave violation of the freedom of worship and religion of millions of faithful, both Catholics and non-Catholics who worship daily at the center.
"We hope that the Enugu Diocese of the Catholic Church will retrace its steps from this dangerous incursion into politics and allow people to worship where they like.
"It is unconstitutional to close down a place of worship in Nigeria under any guise whatsoever because of remarks against any person even if it is the president of the Federation. The Court of Appeal in Arthur Nwankwo's case stated that the rights guaranteed the citizens of this country under the Constitution should be jealously guarded."
 

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No fewer than 18 passengers were burnt to death in a ghastly motor accident involving a Toyota bus and a truck in Niger State.

The accident occurred in the Gidan-Mangoro area, along the Minna-Bida Road, Minna, the state capital.
 
The incident which occurred at about 3:00 am on Saturday is said to have involved a Kano Line bus going from Lagos to Kano but unfortunately had a head-on collision with a broken-down truck along the way. 
 
SaharaReporters gathered that 18 occupants of the bus including children and the driver met their untimely death as they were burnt beyond recognition while their charred bodies were mangled.

It was learnt that the broken down truck was almost in the centre of the busy Minna-Bida Road without any sign to warn other road users hence the bus rammed into it and burst into flames, causing the death of the occupants.
 
The accident was also confirmed by the
the spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who said the only survivor of the accident was receiving treatment at an undisclosed health facility in Minna.

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Dr Nasir Aminu

Whenever the academic staff union of universities (ASUU)calls off its strike, we all begin to countdown to the next. That is because we know the government will fail to commit to the agreement, and ASUU will always be ASUU. Everyone is fed up with this fruitless cycle, and it is time for the union to renew its tactics. ASUU wants to renegotiate the 2009 agreement – which was built on a 2001 agreement – and it is an excellent idea. 

The union should begin to study an agreement that will ultimately reform the university sector. A reform that willrelieve the government of its university financial and bureaucratic burdens should be a deal that is too good to refuse. The agreement should not create an avenue to increase student tuition fees. However, it should be a deal in whichacademic staff receive competitive wages similar to their colleagues employed by private universities.

Based on recent global advances, reforms are necessary for a thriving university system to succeed. For this reform to work, ASUU must work alongside university leaders, student unions, government agencies and seasoned professionals from a specific discipline to design a feasible proposal. Therefore, as ASUU renegotiate the FGN-ASUU 2009 agreement, theyshould propose the following four autonomies as part of higher education reform in the country.

Dr Nasir Aminu

First, ASUU should negotiate for full academic autonomy for individual institutions. Academic autonomy will reformNigeria's education system. And it is vital for any university's success. Universities must be able to make decisions on academic matters, like quality assurance, academic content, the introduction of degree courses, the teaching instructionlanguage, and student admissions. 

The quality assurance system is an essential accountability tool, but the process is taxing and bureaucratic. These include accreditation, programme evaluation and other forms of academic audits. Academics may frown upon the bureaucracy, especially non-academics or external agencies like the national universities commission (NUC). In renegotiating, ASUU should recommend that individual institutions choosetheir quality assurance regimes and the appropriate providers. A fundamental academic autonomy is the capacity to plan and design the various course contents. Of course, there is an exception for regulated professions like medicine, pharmacy, architecture, accounting and general system engineering, for which compliance with national legislation is mandatory.

Universities should agree to design and offer academic courses without outside interference. They should be able to select the medium or language of instructions they feel is appropriate. The independence to choose a teaching language is essential in the context of institutional internationalisation strategies. Another fundamental aspect of a university'sacademic autonomy is the freedom to specify overall student numbers and set admission criteria. The implication for study places is essential for the finances and profile of an institution. The agreement will overlap with the functions of the joint admissions and matriculations board (JAMB) which will be part of the restructuring. However, having the autonomy to decide on the number of students will contribute meaningfullyto certifying teaching excellence. It will also align student interest with the courses offered. 

If the union successfully negotiates academic autonomy with the government and each university's management, universities will have the ability to pursue their specific mission flexibly. The agreement will also be able to attract international students and international research collaborations. They will compete with private universities and generate additional income for the institutions.

Secondly, ASUU should negotiate for staffing autonomy. It seems like Federal Universities have this autonomy, but in many cases, it is unclear. The proposal should also give each university autonomy to decide on issues related to human resources management. These include staff salary levels, recruitments, dismissals and promotions.

Competing in a global higher education environment involvesuniversities hiring academics and administrative staff who are most suitable and qualified with little interference from external bodies. Such issues are common for State universitiesin Nigeria. Also, if universities can set their salary levels,attracting a competitive and excellent international workforcewill be much easier. University employees should not be considered civil servants. Staffing autonomy can enhance an institution's independence in promoting and dismissingpersonnel. This autonomy gives universities a competitive advantage in staffing issues. Achieving staffing autonomy will remove all the complications of potential crises with the federal government. Therefore, the union will find it more beneficial if they negotiate within their institutions than with a vacillating government. It will be good to clarify this autonomy to avoid issues such as academic professorial appointments or individual cases of harassment.

Third, ASUU should negotiate for structural autonomy. It means universities should have the independence to decide on their internal organisation, like decision-making bodies, legal entities, internal academic structures, and executive leadership.

Fundamentally, university governing bodies consist of bodies like the senate, board of governors or a council. Some have a combination of these bodies. These bodies form to agree on long-term strategic issues, like university policies, budget, and academic matters, including staff promotions and curricula. It will be better not to have an external member in the governing bodies to universities have their say in the fundamental academic decisions. Individual universities should be free to create profit and not-for-profit legal entities. This autonomy will be directly linked to an institution's capacity to determine and pursue its creative and strategic path. ASUU should also negotiate legal guidelines for universities to independently decide on the appointment of their executive head, the length of their term of office and grounds for dismissal. Universities can do without the NUC and the National Assembly in their decision-making bodies.

Fourth, it is in the union's interest to negotiate for financial autonomy. Achieving this will allow each university to freely decide on its internal financial affairs. 

With financial autonomy, each university will be free to keep a surplus and borrow money from the financial markets, facilitating long-term financial planning. Doing so will open up new private funding streams. The government will design financial sustainability measures for the sector to cap the borrowing abilities of each institution and how much surplus it can keep as a reserve. Autonomy provides universities the flexibility they need to fulfil their diverse missions most suitably. ASUU should understand that not everything can be agreed upon at once. If, for example, the government disagrees with the freedom for universities to borrow money, they should understand that it will not be a constraint for full autonomy, as is evident in European countries like Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, and Switzerland.

Since universities charge tuition fees, a significant percentage of university budgets are covered. The tuition fees will not rise as other sources of income expand. Therefore, the freedom to open up new private funding streams of investments is crucial in deciding on institutional strategies. A practical is the universities in the United Kingdom where about 25% of their income comes from home student fees. The rest comes from the higher fees paid by international students, government grants, charitable donations, and university investments. Contributions include research award funds. The ASUU university branches will negotiate their employee benefits internally, which will be competitive to allow employees to be more productive. These benefits will cover pension plans, healthcare, housing, and other vitalbenefits.

Finding agreement for financial autonomy will allow each institution to manage its resources independently. It will alsoenable an institution to design, set, and achieve its strategic goals. The negotiations should also allow public universities to continue to receive a proportion of their funds from the government. To avoid any form of duplicity, ASUU and the university management can negotiate an annual pre-allocated budget or block grant from the government funding as it is done worldwide. It could be done in value terms or as a percentage of fiscal expenditure.

These four autonomies can solve all the grievances presented by ASUU. The persistent strikes by ASUU for government to commit to consistent university funding, consider academic staffs' salary scale and promotions, pay arrears andallowances, etc., will only be read in history books. Most importantly, it should be an offer the next government will not decline.

Finally, some of the leading Presidential candidates have experience in university education management. Two of themhave written their manifestos but have not considered how they can address the lingering issues of the union. It will be an excellent opportunity to nudge them to adopt this deal.

 

Dr Nasir Aminu – Senior Lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University

 

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Sani Toro

A former Secretary-General of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Hon. Ahmed Sani Toro, has been reportedly kidnapped by suspected terrorists. 
He was kidnapped on Saturday night on Abuja-Jos Road alongside a former Golden Eaglets' assistant coach, Garba Iliya.

Sani Toro
Daily Trust reports that the duo were on their way back to Bauchi after attending the wedding of the son of a former Nigeria Football Federation president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari in Abuja on Friday.
A football stakeholder in Bauchi State who is a close friend of the abductees said those who abducted them were yet to contact their families.
“It is true they were abducted close to Ryom in Plateau State when they were returning to Bauchi from Abuja.
“They had attended the wedding Fatiha of the son of Alhaji Aminu Maigari at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday.
"I have been in touch with their family members. Those who kidnapped them are yet to contact the families.
“We are all praying and hoping in earnest that Allah will intervene in the unfortunate situation and they would be released unharmed,” he said.

Mr Sani is a former Commissioner of Sports in Bauchi State and once a member of the House of Representatives. He served as the Secretary-General of the then NFA between 1993 to 1999.

During his tenure, the Super Eagles won their second AFCON title in 1994 in Tunisia, made their senior World Cup debut in the USA the same year, won gold at Atlanta 1996 Olympics Games and made their second World Cup appearance at France 1998.

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An appeal court in Iceland has awarded a Nigerian man 19 million krónur (N60 million) after being detained illegally for extra 9 months. 
According to a report by RUV, the investigation had led to a two-month prison sentence. However, his time in custody was extended beyond the eventual sentence handed down in court.

He further claimed damages from the Icelandic state as a result—also claiming compensation for the travel ban he was subject to between the end of his custody and the time the court made its final verdict.
A district court had earlier ruled in the man’s favour, ordering the state to pay the man 4.5 million krónur (N14.2 million) in compensation.
The district court ruled that Iceland should only compensate for the five months spent in custody in Iceland— it failed to hold the Icelandic state responsible for the six months the Nigerian man spent in custody in Italy while authorities there processed the extradition request from Iceland.
But the court of appeal ruled that the state was liable to pay compensation for the man’s time spent behind bars in both Iceland and Italy. This was because the man was remanded in custody while Italian authorities worked on a request made by Iceland.
The Nigerian man had been arrested alongside three Icelanders, over an online crime committed in 2015, when an unknown man hacked into communications between an Icelandic fish exporter and a South Korean importer. 
The man got the South Korean company to transfer 54 million krónur meant to pay for Icelandic fish into a fraudulent account.
The Icelanders were remanded in custody for a week, but the Nigerian for nearly a year. After trial, the court sentenced the Icelanders for money laundering by intent and sentenced them to 8, 10, and 12 months in prison. The Nigerian was sentenced to just two months for the crime of money laundering by negligence.
People sentenced to prison for financial crimes usually do not serve their full sentence in prison, and can often serve at least part of it in the form of community service.
In this case, the person who was handed down by far the shortest sentence spent by far the longest time behind bars. As a result, the state has been ordered to pay him 19 million krónur which is N60 million

News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, new York Disable advertisements : 

The Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force says it has begun an investigation into the shooting of five family members by suspected operatives of Ebubeagu security outfit in Okporo community, Orlu Local Government Area of the state.
Ebubeagu is the security network formed by state governments in the South-East to tackle insecurity in the region. 

The command's spokesman, Micheal Abattam, told SaharaReporters that the command had begun an investigation to know those behind the atrocity.
Abattam said the victims were shot while having a family meeting on Thursday, adding that the command had yet to know those behind the killing.
He said, “We have started an investigation into the incident. They were in a meeting when they were shot. Investigation would unravel all the circumstances behind the shootings. Let us wait for the report of the investigation.”
Video footage that has gone viral which SaharaReporters saw on Sunday, shows five persons in a pool of blood, struggling for life.
While two appear to have died, the other three appear to be in pain as they ask for help.
One of the victims is heard saying in Igbo,
“Come and help me oo, I'm dying oo."
Also, a woman is crying and calling for help for her son to be taken to the hospital for treatment. 
“I’m dead, Chineke mea I am dead,” she says.
Another gunshot victim can be seen dragging himself and shouting for help. The victims are all soaked in blood as it gushes out from the gunshot injuries they sustained. 
Some of the residents who spoke to SaharaReporters on Sunday maintained that the victims were shot by Ebebeagu operatives who were going about in search of young men believed to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“We have heard more horrible tales about the activities of Ebubeagu in our area. They were not unknown gunmen.
“The Ebubeagu guys who shot the people were said to be looking for some youths. When they didn’t see the people they were looking for, they descended on the old folks.
“I know what those people are passing through. There’s no villager who doesn’t know the activities of unknown gunmen. When it is the state operatives, they also know,” one of the community members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Another person alleged that the Ebubeagu security outfit has turned the area into a living hell. 
 

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A Nigerian American student, Rotimi Kukoyi, has been accepted into 15 universities including Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University. 
He was also awarded over $2 million in scholarships for the scheme. 

In 2018, Rotimi Kukoyi — a high school freshman at the time — was one of the gifted students selected to appear on the “Jeopardy!” Teen Tournament. 

Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Johns Hopkins were among the top universities he had to choose from, but he eventually selected the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue a career in public health. He was awarded UNC's prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship, the oldest merit scholarship program in the country.

Kukoyi became a standout academic and was the first Black National Merit Scholar at his high school in Hoover, Alabama. He told ABC News that he became inspired to take his academic achievement to the next level during his time appearing on the "Jeopardy!" Teen Tournament back in 2018 when he was a freshman.

"It was (a) really fun experience but also put me in contact with some pretty cool students from across the country," Kukoyi said on "Good Morning America." "A lot of them are older and they're like seniors or juniors that applied to many prestigious schools (and) a lot of them are attending prestigious universities now. So that was kind of my original inspiration to apply to those universities."
COVID-19  is what inspired Kukoyi to study public health and he said he wants to evoke change on both small-scale and large-scale levels.
"COVID really sparked (my interest in public health) because that was the first time that I really saw how clear the health inequities were," Kukoyi told ABC news. "African Americans had a much higher chance of dying from COVID than white Americans ... it was almost like two separate pandemics were impacting our nation, and we saw (some people) marginalized and impacted way more.
"I want my legacy to be one that's focused on impacting other people. I suppose a lot of people in the pursuit of their own goals can kind of forget what it's all about."

Education International News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

Predictably, APC won the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. Abiodun Oyebanji garnered 187, 057 votes. As usual, the election wasn’t free from vote-buying, ballot stuffing and snatching, and other surreptitious rigging tactics - the trademark of elections in Nigeria.
It is instructive to emphasize that any election in Yoruba land or Nigeria, in general, would not deter or delay the departure of Yorubas from Nigeria. Yoruba self-determination (Yoruba Nation) is not contingent on the presidential candidates of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. Any Yoruba who thinks agitation for Yoruba Nation will go away simply because of Tinubu’s candidacy is living in a fool’s paradise. As far as we are concerned, a cow can be sworn in as the next president of Nigeria. Nigeria is not redeemable. No one can save Nigeria from falling apart. Nigeria is no more a failed state. It’s a collapsed country. In other words, no amount of restructuring can prevent the imminent and inevitable disintegration of Nigeria. 

Tinubu lacks the militancy, the radicalism, or the revolutionary fervor that would uproot the old Nigeria for a new Nigeria. His allegiance is to his Fulani political godfathers. He would do all that is possible to please them. For example, Tinubu is too patronizing and subservient to the Fulanis - owners of Nigeria - to radically throw the 1999 Constitution (Nigeria’s apartheid document) into the lagoon and initiate a Constituent Assembly that will draft a new constitution. We cannot and will not sacrifice the Yoruba race and Yoruba Nation for the greedy, selfish, and inordinate ambition of Tinubu. 
There can never be real restructuring or true federalism in Nigeria given the super majority of Fulanis in the Senate and the House of Reps. I believe we have passed the negotiating stage for restructuring or true federalism. Restructuring or true federalism is too little, too late. We have gone too far on Yoruba self-determination to go back. After all, we have nothing to lose but our chains of servitude to the Fulanis. Given the scale and scope of the massacre of Yorubas by Fulani savages, any Yoruba man or woman that continues to advocate for restructuring is a traitor, a betrayer, and indeed an enemy of Yorubas. No one and nothing will send us back to Egypt.  
We’re out of the killing jungle!

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Bayo Oluwasanmi Disable advertisements : 

Omoyele Sowore

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has accused Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, and other members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of destroying the principles of democracy with vote-buying during the Ekiti governorship election on Saturday.

Sowore, who is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), on Sunday said Fayemi who paraded himself as a 'pro democracy' activist was the mastermind of vote-buying that led to the massive victory recorded by the APC in the election. 

Omoyele Sowore BBC
He tweeted, "Gov. @kfayemi of the All Progressives Congress @OfficialAPCNg made his name as a “pro democracy” activist, by yesterday he and other members of his party destroyed “Democracy” with paper money! #WeCantContinueLikeThis."
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the candidate of the APC, Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the governorship election.

Gov. @kfayemi of the All Progressives Congress @OfficialAPCNg made his name as a “pro democracy” activist, by yesterday he and other members of his party destroyed “Democracy” with paper money! #WeCantContinueLikeThis pic.twitter.com/HFoxRP5gnI

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) June 19, 2022
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Kayode Adebowale, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, announced the results.
Adebowale said, “Oyebanji, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as the governor-elect of Ekiti State.”

The APC scored 187,057 votes to defeat its closest rival, the SDP, which garnered 82,211 votes, the PDP, which got 67,457 votes and 13 other parties which participated in Saturday’s governorship election.
Out of the 360,753 votes cast, the total valid votes in the election were 351,865.

While the agent of SDP, Owoseeni Ajayi, did not sign the forms for the votes cast, the agent of the ADP, said, “Instead of having polling centres, what we have in Ekiti are vote-buying centres”.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, new York Disable advertisements : 

I must start this piece by confessing that I have never met Comrade Omoyele Sowore in person before. While it is true that for the past decade I have been writing on his SaharaReporters website we only communicated via email. I hold Sowore in high esteem because when he was in the University of Lagos doing his higher education I was in Benin City equally pursuing a better future academically. I began respecting him because as the UNILAG student union President (then) he stood for democracy and the rule of law even against grave risk to his young and promising life.

During the national June 12 annulled presidential poll debacle we were on the trenches and the streets campaigning vigorously for the popular mandate given to the late business mogul, Bashorun MKO Abiola, to be restored or actualised. As a young student in my teens in Benin City I narrowly escaped death when a fellow student standing beside me was hit by a bullet leading to his untimely death! It could have been me but God decided otherwise!

Having said the foregoing it is important that I declare that we believe in the vision and mission of Comrade Sowore as regards his candidacy for the presidency. He would definitely make a good no-nonsense incorruptible intrepid President if given the mandate to liberate Nigeria and Nigerians from the misery and poverty the corrupt elite have sentenced them. Sowore has demonstrated his patriotism and democratic credentials for decades so he has nothing more to prove.

Critics had lambasted him for practising 'yellow' journalism or propagating 'fake news' using his popular website as a tool for blackmail and/or executive cyber-stalking. But we see his efforts differently! We see him and his digital campaign for a better nation as a patriotic duty. He has faced a whole lot of challenges trying to contribute his quota towards the betterment of our society.

He had been arrested countless times and detained illegally (especially by Buhari and his lawless DSS goons) on many occasions. He has suffered a lot of privations and mental torture because of his uncompromising posture. His courage and staying power is one not given to every human rights crusader or social critic.

Comrade Sowore's foray into politics started four years ago when he used his political party, the African Action Congress, (AAC) as a vehicle to capture power at the zenith. Though he scored a negligible figure his popularity and acceptability has soared over time -- especially after his 'revolution-Now' campaign led to his apprehension and incarceration.

Comrade Sowore is the official candidate of the AAC in the forthcoming presidential election of February next year. He is up against formidable opponents like the PDP's Atiku Abubakar and APC's Asiwaju Tinubu. And the Labour Party's Peter Obi. Nigerians may decide to usher in an electoral revolution by electing either Sowore or Obi to Aso Rock. But that would be a hard battle, displacing the corrupt stupendously rich elite from the power scene.

By defeating the establishment corrupt political parties (PDP and APC) Obi or Sowore would book appointment with history and posterity as President Emmanuel Macron did in France five years ago and the last month. Barack Obama did it against all odds in the United States. And closer home in Africa President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera did it in Malawi few years ago.

Daily, Sowore is always in the news for revolutionary reasons. Yet critics accuse him of being a 'neophyte' in politics! They contend that he should have started his political career by tasting his popularity as a councillor or local government chairman in his Ondo State. But we concede that it is not a settled matter that a politician, no matter how inexperienced or untried, must begin his conquest for power at the local level.

Recently, Sowore took to his Twitter handle and made some disparaging remarks against ex-Governor Obi. He said he heard that Obi travelled to Egypt "to learn on how to fix Education/Power problems. This is exactly the problem with unprepared candidates". Besides, Sowore had called on Obi to "join the AAC in order to enjoy electoral victory" claiming that the Labour Party had "no structure". He equally claimed that "Labour Party has become an orphanage for politicians that are homeless, it didn't take long when our man ran there when he became homeless".

Peter Obi may or may not be the messiah Nigerians are praying for to deliver them from darkness. He has never laid any claim to that effect! But he has been marshalling out his plans convincing more and more people of his capacity to lead. He has been hammering on the need for the Nigerian electorate, especially the youths, to organize themselves and take power at the centre. It is not impossible if the will is there!
In the Labour Party Obi is uniquely positioned to redefine the Nigerian polity. Labour Party of the past cannot be said to be the same as presently. With Obi dictating its presidential future the sky is the limit! What the party needs doing is the right thing: drawing naysayers its way and imposing its power of mobilisation across board.
Since the era of rigging elections are behind us with the new Electoral Act signed into law, one that allows the electronic transmission of results thuggery and hooliganism in our electoral system has suffered enormous damage. The thugs that used to steal the ballot boxes and the godfathers that used to impose candidates and the electoral umpires that announced losers as winners have all been put out of business for good!
It is not out of place to say that the 2023 presidential poll would not be stolen as usual. Those poised on stealing same would meet their waterloo. Every vote would count and the real winner would emerge at the end of the day. No hanky-panky games, no intimidation of the electorate or buying of their conscience this time.
What makes Obi stand out is that he seems to be genuinely concerned about the wellfare of ordinary Nigerians and shares their pains, their dashed hopes and dreams. He wants to serve and not to be served! He wants to be given power to right the past wrongs. He means well for Nigeria!

The executive SaharaReporter is often accused of 'misfiring' online. He often comes across as one perpetually at war with the political demons holding Nigeria hostage. He appears to be in a hurry to chase the executive 'thieves' back home!

The Comrade goofed, therefore, in our reckoning, by declaring that Obi was not prepared for the presidency because he visited Egypt or wherever. He goofed by asking ignorantly if he constructed good roads, built hospitals or schools as Governor of Anambra State.

Indeed, he should have known better that Obi remains one of the best performing Governors ever to govern Anambra State. Of course he built quality hospitals and schools. And constructed good roads which still stand today as a reference. He made Anambra safe for business and investment unlike now when the so-called 'unknown gunmen' are on the rampage all over the state kidnapping, killing and extorting 'Ndi-Anambra'.

Above all, Obi left billions of Naira in Anambra state's vault upon his handing over power to the ex-Governor Willy Obiano who squandered the funds and looted others. He demystified gubernatorial power by cutting costs and saving heavily as they say, for rainy days! If Atiku Abubakar had won the rigged presidential election of 2019 then Obi would have been positioned to rule Nigeria post 'Atikulation'.

The Comrade goofed by insinuating that Obi belonged to a party (Labour) that serves as home for 'homeless' politicians. Come to think of it, Obi is more prepared than any other candidate for the upcoming presidential poll. He speaks eloquently about his vision for a great nation where talent is rewarded and the nation itself made to work for her abused citizens.

Comrade Sowore, with all due respect, must consider swallowing his 'pride' by working with patriots like Peter Obi if he wants to preside over the affairs of Nigeria someday in the future. Perhaps if he teams up with a third force capable of sending the old generation of politicians back home he could be appointed a Minister or Special Adviser and from there his political career would blossom leading to power conquest at the apex.

Attacking the wrong person, Peter Obi, has diminished Sowore's reputation. Maybe 'jealousy' or inferiority complex could be blamed here as reactions trailing his outburst online had revealed. Sowore was generally lambasted for being a 'wannabe' politician. But we hold that Nigeria is blessed with strong characters and patriots like Omoyele Sowore and Peter 'Okwute' Obi. With them at the driver's seat presidentially then hope would be restored to our broken rotten system.

Peter Obi represents a bundle of promises. The Obi phenomenon is here to stay! Whether he wins the presidential poll of next year or not is inconsequential. The next four years or eight years could see his star rise from the east shining over and above every nook and cranny of this great nation! Through hard work and creative politicking, Obi could overcome the odds and triumph beyond every imagination.

If political permutations are allowed and the mass mobilisation of Igbos across the length and breadth of the federation are any positive indication then Peter Obi may well upstage or upset the applecart come February. And when he does the likes of Sowore would be forced to acknowledge greatness.

SOC Okenwa

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Ozodinukwe Okenwa Disable advertisements : 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to “gather information about reports of vote-buying, undue influence, intimidation, ballot box snatching, and other electoral offences by the three leading political parties in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election.”
 
SERAP also urged INEC to “promptly and effectively prosecute those arrested, and bring to justice anyone who sponsored, aided and abetted them.”

 
In a letter dated June 18, 2022, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Corruption of the ballot box intrudes on the freedom of Nigerian voters to make up their own minds. Vote-buying and other forms of electoral corruption freeze out the less wealthy candidates and parties.


“Wealthy candidates and their sponsors ought not to be allowed to profit from their crimes. We are concerned that impunity for vote-buying and electoral bribery is widely prevalent in Nigeria, as perpetrators are rarely brought to justice.”
 
According to SERAP, “If voting is as important as INEC always claims it is, now is the time to end the buying of democracy by wealthy politicians and their sponsors.”
 
The letter read in part: “Vote buying encourages poor governance and weakens citizens’ capacity to hold their ‘elected officials’ accountable for their actions.
 
“When political candidates or their sponsors decide to buy the support of the people rather than contest fairly for their votes, there are possibilities that such candidates and sponsors will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable.
 
“Vote buying is entirely an act of election malpractice connected with vested interest since an election can be said to be free and fair when it is devoid of vote-buying, ballot snatching, and intimidation.
 
“Your commitment to these issues will demonstrate to the voters that INEC is ready, willing and able to combat vote-buying and electoral bribery and reassure Nigerians that INEC will do everything within its mandates to ensure that the 2023 general elections are not tainted by corruption.
 
“Ending impunity for vote-buying, undue influence, ballot snatching, intimidation, and other electoral malpractices would contribute to free and fair elections and show that INEC would not tolerate these illegal practices during the 2023 general elections.
 
“There are reports of a brazen pattern of vote-buying and electoral bribery in several polling units during the just concluded Ekiti governorship election. There are reports of bargaining prices for votes and payments made in uncompleted buildings and bags of foodstuff being shared after votes have been cast.
 
“Acting swiftly to address the brazen impunity and reports of vote-buying and electoral bribery and other electoral offences during the Ekiti state governorship election would also send a strong message to politicians that INEC under your watch would not tolerate such practices during the 2023 general elections.
 
“SERAP is concerned that the failure of INEC to rein in vote-buying, electoral bribery and intimidation is illustrated by the fact that the body has not seriously addressed similar incidents in previous elections.”
 
The group described vote-buying and electoral bribery as a "threat to fair and representative elections". 
 
It said, "A corruption-free electoral process is essential for building public confidence in the electoral process, and the credibility and legitimacy of the 2023 elections.”
 
“Preventing and combating vote-buying and electoral bribery would advance the people’s right to vote and to participate in their own government, as well as bolster the ability of INEC to discharge its constitutional and statutory mandates effectively and satisfactorily,” it said. 


According to SERAP, "prosecuting allegations of vote-buying, undue influence, ballot snatching, intimidation, and other electoral malpractices during the Ekiti state governorship election would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the country’s international human rights anti-corruption obligations.”
 
It also noted that prosecuting those arrested and "identifying and arresting those who sponsored, aided and abetted them and bringing them to justice would act as a deterrent against vote-buying and electoral bribery and other electoral malpractices and offences in the February 2023 general elections." 
 
It said, “Agents of the three dominant political parties in the state, namely All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), were reportedly involved in buying votes across the state. According to reports, agents of the three parties in Ward 007, PU 001, Ado LGA offered voters as high as N10,000 in exchange for their votes.
 
“There are also several reports of ballot box snatching including in polling units with codes 13/05/06/005 and 007 in Ilawe Ward IV, near St. Patrick’s School. In several voting units, party agents for the APC, PDP and SDP reportedly clustered around the voting cubicle and saw how voters marked their ballot papers.
 
“Vote buying and electoral bribery, intimidation of voters, ballot snatching and other electoral malpractices and offences undermine the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.
 
“The Nigerian Constitution provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
 
“Section 145(2) of the Electoral Act provides that, ‘a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission or any legal practitioner appointed by it.’ Under section 2(b), the commission ‘shall have power to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes.’
 
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”
 
 

Elections News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, new York Disable advertisements : 

The Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has reportedly arrested Mr Chimezie Nwosu and his wife, Victoria for allegedly chaining his seven-year-old son, Kelechi and dumping him in a room.
The suspects were said to have committed the offence around the World Bank area of Owerri, the Imo State Capital on June 17, 2022.

The Command's spokesman, Micheal Abattam, who confirmed the incident and the subsequent arrest of the suspects on Saturday, said that it was a good Samaritan who drew the attention of the command to the incident.
Abattam explained that immediately the command received the report, it swung into action and arrested the duo as well as rescued Kelechi and two other children; adding that they had been taken to an orphanage.
The PPRO said, “Sequel to a report on child Slavery/Abuse received on 17/6/2022 at about 14:00 hours, by the police from a Good Samaritan residing at World Bank Owerri, Imo State.
“The Divison Police Officer (DPO) in Charge of New Owerri Divisional Police Headquarters Owerri, Imo state, swiftly mobilized a team of policemen including the officer in Charge of Juvenile Welfare Center (JWC ) to the scene at World Bank area.
“On arrival the police operatives went into the identified house where they found a malnourished child, later identified as Kelechi Nwosu, age 7 years, in an uncompleted security post, his two legs chained and locked with two padlocks. The child was immediately rescued alongside two other children-Destiny Nwosu age 11 years and Chinemerie Nwosu age 9 years all looking unkept and malnourished."
Police further said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was chained by his stepmother Mrs Victoria Nwosu ‘f’ age 26 years. The father of the three children, Mr Chimezie Nwosu ‘m’ age 30 years seeing his wife maltreating the child never showed concern or cautioned his wife. It was also discovered that the three rescued children were left by Mr Victor Nwosu’s estranged wife.
“On rescuing the children the police operatives immediately rushed them to a nearby government hospital where they were treated and discharged. However, they were later handed over to a government-recognized Orphanage Home were they will be well taken care of pending when their mother is located."
He, however, noted that suspects were still undergoing interrogation in the police custody and would be charged to court after investigations. 

News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

Abiodun Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, has emerged the winner of the 2022 Ekiti governorship election.

Oyebanji was announced as the winner by Kayode Adebowale, returning officer for the election, after amassing a total of 187,057 votes.

“Oyebanji, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as the governor-elect of Ekiti State," the returning officer said.

Oyebanji won with a landslide victory ahead of Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party who had 82,211 and 67,457 votes respectively.

The election recorded low turnout with less than 40 percent of the registered voters coming out to vote. See Also Elections Highest Bidder: How Rampant Vote-buying Marred Ekiti Governorship Election 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

The election also saw widespread of vote-buying especially by the APC. See Also Breaking News LIVE UPDATE: Ekiti State Governorship Election 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The All Progressives Congress has so far won in 11 out of 12 local government areas whose results have been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission following Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti. 

 

The state has 16 local government areas. 

Sixteen candidates were on the ballot at 2,445 polling units. They included Oluwole Oluyede of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Kemi Elebute Halle of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olabisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); former Governor Segun Oni, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Ranti Ajayi from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

 

Meanwhile, the APC won in Oye Local Government Area. The party's candidate, Oyebanji won with a large margin after securing 13,399 votes. 

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabisi Kolawole had 4,122 while the Social Democratic Party whose candidate is Segun Oni got 5,391 votes.

 

APC also won in the Ikere Local Government Area with 12,086 votes, while PDP secured 3,789 votes. 

The ADC followed closely with 3,764 votes while the SDP secured 1,943 votes. 

 

However, the PDP won in Efon Local Government Area with 6,303 votes. The APC came second with 4,012 votes while the SDP garnered 339 votes. 

The Action Democratic Party had 77 votes while the People's Redemption Party had 20 votes.

 

Other results are as follows: 

Ijero LGA

APC 13754

PDP 4897

SDP 5006

 

Emure LGA 

APC 7728

PDP 2610

SDP 3445

 

Ekiti South West LGA 

APC 9679

PDP 4474

SDP 4577

 

Registered Voters 53713

Accredited Voters 19982

 

Ilejemeje LGA 

APC 4357

PDP 1157

SDP 2344

 

Registered Voters 18791

Accredited Voters 8439

 

 

Moba LGA 

APC 11609

PDP 3530

SDP 4904

 

Ekiti West LGA

APC 15322

PDP 3386

SDP 3863

 

Registered Voters 59220

Accredited Voters 23750

 

Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA

APC 13125

PDP 4712

SDP 5010

 

Registered Voters 70467

Accredited Voters 24123

 

Ido Osi LGA 

APC 10321

PDP 2871

SDP 9489

 

Registered Voters 57780

Accredited Voters 23848

 

Ise/Orun LGA 

APC 8074

PDP 2588

SDP 5909

 

 

 

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements :