Over 603 inmates are still missing seven days after terrorists attacked Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
 
Gunmen suspected last Tuesday night attacked the prison facility, leaving the facility heavily damaged by the firepower brought by the assailants.

Multiple sources told SaharaReporters that the gunmen invaded the facility around 10 pm.
 
The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in a video last Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack.
 
In the video, the terrorists are seen shooting their way into the facility.
 
The Nigerian government said 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack.
  See Also Sahara Reporters All Boko Haram Suspects In Kuje Prison Have Escaped; 64 Inmates In Total – Nigeria’s Defence Minister 0 Comments 1 Week Ago
“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack.
 
“As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at the moment.
 
“However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates,” the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Umar Abubakar, had said.
 
Multiple security sources on Tuesday told SaharaReporters that only 402 inmates were available during roll call on Monday night out of the 1,005 held at the facility before the attack.
  See Also Sahara Reporters Identities, Photos Of Boko Haram Top Commanders That Escaped During Terrorist Attack On Kuje Prison 0 Comments 1 Week Ago
“As at lock-up yesterday, the number of available inmates was 402. That's the total number of those in custody currently,” a source told SaharaReporters.

This leaves 603 inmates, including terrorists unaccounted for.
 

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The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has slammed Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over a claim it described as false regarding pro-Biafra agitations in the country.
 
The Islamic cleric had said that pro-Biafra agitation had reduced in the South-East because of Mr Peter Obi's emergence as a presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.

But MASSOB in a statement on Tuesday described Gumi's claims as full of deceit and falsehood.
 
MASSOB in the statement signed by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, said so many pro-Biafra agitators have been in the self-determination struggle for Biafra actualisation and restoration.
 
He said that Biafra agitators were not clamouring to have an Igbo man as the Nigerian president.
 
The statement partly read, "Our agenda is known, our mission is stated, our position is unshakable and uncompromised and our goal is to actualize an independent state of Biafra through the principles of non-violence.
 
"We can never be cowed or intimidated by the chief patron and negotiator of Fulani terrorist movement ravaging the entire Northern region and the rest of Nigeria in pursuit of President Muhammadu Buhari's Islamic agenda of islamising Nigeria.
 
"MASSOB and other pro-Biafra organizations have nothing against Mr Peter Obi and his intentions to save Nigeria from further collapse.
“He believes in Nigeria, we believe in Biafra. If Nigerians elect him based on his competency and pedigree as their new president, does it concern MASSOB? It's not our business.
 
"Mr Peter Obi is not the first person to contest presidential election since September 1999 we started the MASSOB non-violence self-determination struggle. Why attach him to us now?
 
"MASSOB advised Shiekh Gumi to explain his role and other Fulani cabals in the terrorist attack and breaking of Kuje prisons in Abuja. Don't use Mr Peter Obi and pro-Biafra agitation to divert attention."
 
 

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A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Wilson has become the latest chieftain to dump the party over its Muslim -Muslim presidential ticket, SaharaReporters has learnt.
 
This comes after two prominent figures in the party, Dr Dawari George and Ibim Semintinari, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), resigned their membership of the party over a similar protest.

The trio are all close allies of former transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and are key figures of the party in the state.
 
Announcing his exit from the party on Tuesday, Tonye in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman, Ward 3, Buguma City, Asari Toru Local Government Area, hinged his decision to quit on the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket after a former Governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima emerged as the running mate of Bola Tinubu, its presidential candidate for 2023 election.
 
"I can't argue for equity in my state and defend inequity in my country.
 
"While I appreciate my leader Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi and all his efforts, I cannot defend the decision of my party in fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket, especially at a time like this, against all protests from well-meaning Nigerians across religious and political divides.
 
"It sets a very wrong precedent, it is totally insensitive and even if you win, will prove bad for good governance.
 
"Under these dire circumstances, I find no justification to still remain, in good conscience, a member of a political party that subordinates electoral victory over the safety of lives and the peace of mind of its citizens.
 
"Buhari resisted the same temptation and chose a little-known (Yemi) Osinbajo and won.
 
"By doing this, Tinubu is saying that a Northern Christian has no electoral value. My staying means I agree.
 
"I wish you well. And I remain grateful to our Leader, but l cannot defend the indefensible,” he said.
 
Tinubu handpicked Shettima, a fellow Muslim and a former Governor of Borno State to be his running mate amidst public outcry and condemnation.
 

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The Olympic great, Mo Farah, whose real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin, has spoken on how he was illegally trafficked to the United Kingdom (UK) from Djibouti as a child and was forced to work as a servant.

Farah, who spoke on a BBC TV documentary, “The Real Mo Farah” which will be aired Wednesday, said he was flown to the UK at about the age of eight or nine by a woman he had never met, who then named him Mohammed Farah.

The woman made him look after another family’s children.

Farah, who completed the 5,000m-10,000m double at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, has previously said he came to the UK as a refugee from Somalia with his parents.

However, the 39-year-old Olympic great now revealed that his parents have never been to the UK, adding that his father was killed in civil unrest in Somalia when he was four years old, while his mother, Aisha, and two brothers live in the breakaway state of Somaliland.

“The truth is I’m not who you think I am. Most people know me as Mo Farah, but it’s not my name or it’s not the reality,” Farah said.

According to him, the woman who flew with him to the UK told him he was being taken to live with relatives and to say his name was Mohamed as she had fake travel documents that showed his photo next to the name “Mohamed Farah.”

The Olympic great said his children motivated him to tell the truth about his past.

“That’s the main reason in telling my story because I want to feel normal and don’t feel like you’re holding on to something.”

Farah’s wife, Tania, said that in the year leading to their wedding in 2010, she realised that “there were lots of missing pieces to his story” but she eventually “wore him down with the questioning” and he told her the truth.

Farah said that when he arrived in the UK, the woman who trafficked him took a piece of paper from him that had his relatives’ contact details and “ripped it up and put it in the bin. At that moment, I knew I was in trouble.”

He added that he was forced to do housework and childcare “if I wanted food in my mouth,” and was told that “If you ever want to see your family again, don’t say anything. Often, I would just lock myself in the bathroom and cry.”

He said that his life was transformed for the better once he went to live with Kinsi Farah, the sister of the man who is alleged to have aided in his journey to the UK.

Kinsi in the documentary quoted by The Punch said that she wanted to protect Farah, adding that she does not know why her sister-in-law brought him to the UK.

She said, “Do you think that was her reason when she brought me to the UK, in helping her with cooking, cleaning?” asks Farah in a video call. I don’t know.”

Meanwhile, the documentary showed that Farah was later reunited with his mother in Somaliland.

His mother told him that “I sent you away because of the war. You were given a name that was not yours, sent away to England, a country you knew nothing about.

“It’s important that you tell your story. Lying is a sin.”

Farah’s physical education teacher, Alan Watkinson, noticed how the youngster’s mood changed when he was on the running track.

“The only language he seemed to understand was the language of PE and sport,” says Watkinson.

Farah says it was athletics that enabled him to escape.

“The only thing I could do to get away from this (situation) was to get out and run,” he says.

Farah eventually told Watkinson the truth and he informed local authorities.

It was Watkinson who applied for Farah’s British citizenship which he described as a “long process” and on July 25, 2000 Farah was recognised as a British citizen.

“I often think about the other Mohamed Farah, the boy whose place I took on that plane and I really hope he’s OK,” said Farah.

Farah was told by lawyers during the making of the documentary that due to “false representations” he risked being stripped of his British citizenship.

However, a Home Office spokesman told The Times “No action whatsoever will be taken” against Farah — often called ‘Sir Mo’ after he was ennobled by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017.

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federal (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Monday visited the headquarters of 'Ekklesiyan Yan'uwa A Nigeria' (EYN), also known as Church of the Brethren to condole with the family of Rev. Daniel Umaru, whose two sons were murdered by terrorists last week.

SaharaReporters on July 7, 2022 reported that gunmen shot Pastor Umaru, gunned down his two sons and kidnapped his 13-year-old daughter in Adamawa State.

The sons died while the pastor was taken to hospital where he has been fighting to survive.

The mother of the deceased children was said to have suffered trauma following the tragedy that befell the family.

The kidnappers had shot the cleric, killed his two sons and kidnapped his daughter last week.

Also on July 10, 2022 SaharaReporters reported that the kidnapped 13-year-old daughter of Pastor Daniel Umaru had been freed after a huge ransom was allegedly paid to her kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the remains of the two sons who were shot dead on an ill-fated night had been buried by wailing relations and friends of the family.

Leading a federal government delegation on Monday SGF Mustapha said, "President Muhammadu Buhari was deeply saddened by news of the gruesome murder of the young stars.”

He noted that the government was working towards ending terrorism and violent crimes in the country.

While in Yola, the SGF threatened that the government would revoke contract for the rehabilitation of Yola-Mubi road in Adamawa State.

He gave one week ultimatum to the contractor, AG Vision, to return to site, else the government would not hesitate to revoke the contract.

The visibly displeased SGF, expressed displeasure over the contractor's handling of the project despite huge amount so far collected.

"I am very disappointed with the level of work here; normally it is government that owes contractors and not contractor owing government. This contract of Yola-Mubi road was awarded to AG Vision in 2017 for N22billion because of the slow pace of work, there was a review and this year another N29billion was approved, we do not want another review, the company must return to site or face the consequences", SGF Mustapha said.

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Former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo

An Anambra State resident has been accused of placing two coffins and assorted charms in a disputed piece of land to stop the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, from demolishing the said property.

The presence of the fetish materials did not deter the government officials from carrying out the demolition of the property, which is said to be near the Governor’s Lodge in Onitsha.

SaharaReporters learnt that the resident had fenced the property and the Anambra government was said to have demolished structures in the disputed land for the fifth time.

SaharaReporters learnt on Tuesday, that since the last demolition of the fence of the property earlier this year, the resident, whose name could not yet be ascertained, had gone ahead to build on the land and allegedly placed two coffins and charms at strategic placed on the disputed property to scare the government team away from further incursion in the land.

But the government taskforce, comprising security personnel and officials of the relevant state government agencies on Monday in continuation of demolition of illegal structures, defied the charms and pulled down the structures erected on the land and destroyed the coffins.

The Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Chike Maduekwe, who led the taskforce, while addressing journalists after the exercise, vowed that no amount of intimidation would stop or make the government not to reclaim the land which he said was designated for judges’ quarters.

Maduekwe said that the parcel of land was designated for judges’ quarters and the government had started developing the site, wondering why the Onitsha resident, said to be a lawyer, would continue to trespass on the property.

He said, “We have the directive to arrest him and prosecute him if he ever trespasses on this land again. The Anambra State Government can no longer tolerate this kind of impunity and will ensure that any interloper is prosecuted.

“The government of Prof Chukwuma Soludo believes in the rule of law and will not allow people to have their way with this kind of unlawful activities.”

 

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Some Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia have accused top officials of the Lagos State Government of forcing them to pay a higher amount for animal sacrifices.

In Saudi Arabia during the hajj, pilgrims are expected to pay for an animal sacrifice.

The sacrifice, known as the hadi, is incumbent on all pilgrims, who must donate at least two-thirds of the meat to the poor.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, the pilgrims alleged that the officials collected 555 Saudi Riyards from each of the 1672 Pilgrims for rams but employed the service of a Saudi Arabia collaborator who was given 300 Saudi Riyards.

They claimed the Lagos officials led by the Commissioner for Homes Affairs, Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi and Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Jebe Abdullahi Kolawole, pocketed the remaining 255 Saudi Riyards on each pilgrim. See Also Travel Nigerian Pilgrims Officer Diverts Money For Intending Hajj Travellers 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

A top source said, “It is the same Lagos Pilgrim officials, including the SA to the Governor and Commissioner for Home Affairs. They collected 555 Saudi Riyards from each pilgrim (1672 of us) for Sallah rams. Rather than spend the amount, they employed the service of a Saudi collaborator, gave him a 300 riyards and pocketed 255 riyards on each pilgrim.

“1672 multiply by 255 and 110, that’s N46,899,600 on rams alone. This is outside the other corrupt practices on BTA, hoarding and illegal sale of hajj forms.

“Though the Saudi authorities and National Hajj commission, the regulatory bodies frowns at such actions but the Lagos official were adamant. The payment was meant to be optional for pilgrims but the state officials ensure compliance of Lagos pilgrims.

“Some of the pilgrims, on knowing the truth about the fraud are protesting and holding the Lagos State Governor responsible with threats of taking it out of him during forthcoming elections.”

SaharaReporters had last week reported some infractions by government officials in the ongoing hajj exercise scheme which also led to the deportation of some pilgrims.

Seven intending pilgrims from Kano State, who departed to Jidda, Saudi Arabia, last Thursday, were sent back over fake visas issued to them.

Five of the deported pilgrims had travelled to Saudi Arabia for hajj through tour operators, while the two others were from the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.

One of the deported pilgrims, Dahiru Yau Musa, said he said they did not know they were issued fake visas until they reached King Abdulazeez Airport. See Also Islam Kano Islamic Police, Hisbah Commander Allegedly Steals 2022 Hajj Slots For Family Members 0 Comments 3 Weeks Ago

“We were in the queue with other pilgrims and when it was my turn, they directed me to stay behind. It was when they finished the screening of other pilgrims, they told me about the fake visa.

“They spoke with NAHCON officials. It took them some time trying to resolve the issue but all to no avail. At the end, we were told that we were being taken back to Nigeria. And the rest is history now,” he had narrated.

 

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Democracy requires quality participation and therefore orientation and knowledge on the part of the followers and leaders who man the democratization process. This has to be carefully planned and executed in order to deliver on its purpose. It must be deliberate and aimed towards directing the leader and the led in the direction of democratic tenets. The mindset of people towards any particular concept must be developed and activated, even before they assume positions of power or authority otherwise it may prove difficult to attempt to bend the iron when it is cold. People will readily adapt when they are yet to assume the position of power.
The orientation should be undertaken by political parties in the process of leadership recruitment. For instance, induction courses or orientation programmes should be organized for those who have won primary elections, to prepare them for the contest ahead, the need for issue-based campaigns and generally to focus on peace and credible electoral process. In the same vein, the government or INEC should organize retreats and seminars for those who have won elections prior to their assumption of office. This will help set a roadmap and offer them a compass for governance. It is not proper to put a greenhorn or some novice in sensitive positions and expect that he will learn on the job.
 
 
Equity is important in the delivery of democracy. The Courts of law are central in the delivery of equity to ensure that there is fairness in the administration of justice. Beyond the courts however, we all can apply the doctrines of equity in our daily lives, especially those who have been entrusted with positions of authority, by embracing freedom from bias or favouritism and do what is right and just to all manner of people that come our way. In the family setting, in the allocation of resources, in the distribution of power and generally in the implementation of policies and programmes, we can embrace the principles of equity. Once there is justice, the moment we practice fairness in our dealings, then there is guarantee for peace, progress and development.

This is where the idea of rotation and zoning comes to play. Surely, our forefathers must have thought ahead of us, by inserting a clause in our Constitution which ensures that there is no concentration of power, wealth and resources in any particular group of people. If we cannot develop on the principle of federal character, we can at least retain and not bastardize it.
 
Democracy is attractive because it promises a better life for the people. It is important that the decisions and policies of the government are effective; otherwise, the government will lose its legitimacy. The current spate of insecurity, poverty and corruption in Nigeria’s public and private sectors makes it difficult to say that democracy has translated to a better life for the Nigerian people. Indeed, the seeming failure of leadership has led some elder statesmen to suggest a kind of interim arrangement that will usher in some kind of caretaker government which will develop a roadmap for Nigeria’s future. Many people have expressed the view that our own brand of democracy bears no value for the common populace.
 
Elections are expensive to conduct but democracy retains a better appeal than other forms of government in terms of cost and efficiency. It is essential to the democratization process that public funds are managed and accounted for in order to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of persons. A situation where the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is found wanting in the management of scarce resources is saddening. The corruption that has permeated the present administration is heartbreaking, given the initial euphoria and empty boasts to fight corruption to a standstill.
 
Professor Chinua Achebe, in his work, The Trouble with Nigeria (2005), published in the African Studies Review, stated as follows:
 
 
‘The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.’
 
He further denied the claims that Nigeria is a great country and remarked as follows:
 
‘Nigeria is not a great country. It is one of the most disorderly nations in the world. It is one of the most corrupt, insensitive, inefficient places under the sun. It is one of the most expensive countries and one of those that give least value for money. It is dirty, callous, noisy, ostentatious, dishonest and vulgar. In short, it is one of the most unpleasant places on earth.’
 
Achebe’s lamentation probably explains why the June 12, 1993 elections was important as there was hope and wide jubilation that the elections would produce popular and credible leaders. Even though Nigeria is now in the doldrums of poverty and underdevelopment, we make bold to state that she can still enjoy the positive link between democracy and good governance as Nigeria has all it takes in terms of natural and human resources to do so. We pray that God will help us, so that like other nations, we will reap the dividends of democracy and enjoy development.
 
This discussion is not a book of lamentation and as such I shall attempt to make some recommendations towards the advancement of democracy, good governance and development in Nigeria. These include:
Strengthening the Electoral Process: There is an urgent need to tinker with the electoral laws and the Constitution to serve the interest of the public, not the deeply entrenched partisan interests of politicians. The present Electoral Act, 2022, has proved inefficient to tackle the common problems plaguing our leadership recruitment process.
 
Safeguards against Electoral Technology: There is an urgent need to ensure maximum safeguards when deploying electoral technology. At present, the majority of the educated Nigerian youth register online to be able to vote at the incoming elections but are unable to complete the process due to malfunctioning of the INEC website. There is an urgent need to ensure safeguards to ensure that Nigeria does not surrender its democracy to machines.
De-concentration of power in the executive branch of government: Over-concentration of power in the executive is an obstacle to good governance in Nigeria. The president and Governors conduct themselves more as emperors than as accountable elected representatives. Even if there is a direct election of the executive branch, it should not serve as a justification for sidelining a directly elected legislature. The masses should learn to exercise their power to recall non performing legislators so as to put them on their toes.
 
A bold and fearless judiciary: The Nigerian Judiciary must remain fearless and bold in holding the government accountable when it flouts the laws of the land. The Courts must assist the Nigerian people through innovative and inspiring judgments in the defence and advancement of the rule of law.
 
A vibrant bar, civil society and populace willing to hold the government accountable for acts which undermine and jeopardize democracy.
Urgent agenda for restructuring, either through a radical amendment of the present Constitution or enacting a new Constitution that will represent the interests, the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
 
In concluding this discourse, it is important to reiterate that democracy is attractive because it offers a better life for the people. On 6th June, 2018, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria declared June 12 as democracy day and memorialized Nigeria’s heroes who died in their struggle to enthrone democracy in Nigeria.
During the investiture ceremony and conferment of the posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief MKO Abiola, the president on the 12th day of June, 2018, stated as follows:
‘What we are doing is celebrating and appreciating the positive side of June 12. June 12 which restates democracy and freedom. The June 12 that overcomes our various divides and the June 12 that produces unity and national cohesion. This is the June 12 that we are celebrating today and we will nurture it to our next generation.’
 
From the words of the President, it is safe to say that there is no democracy without freedom, unity, national cohesion or the rule of law. In fact, law is the midwife of democracy. Permit me to conclude with the admonitions of Charles E. Clark in his article titled ‘The function of Law in a Democratic Society’ published in the University of Chicago Law Review thus:
‘if the people are not in command of their own government, but are actually subordinate to some yet more remote sovereign who upholds and justifies unsanitary conditions, poor housing, long hours of labour, and general defiance of social welfare legislation as a freedom required by some vague constitutional command or higher law of nature, then, we are nearer either to anarchy or the rule of the autocratic few than we are to democracy.’
 
Rather than seeking to magnify our fault lines and divisive tendencies, democracy should be adopted as a tool for national integration and development. I thank you for your kind attention and may God bless you all. 

 

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The European Union (EU) has continued to place more sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The EU Justice Commissioner, Didier Reynders, said on Tuesday that the EU has frozen Russian assets worth $13.8 billion since the war started on February 24 this year.

Reynders told reporters in Prague that “For the moment, we have frozen — coming from oligarchs and other entities — 13.8 billion euros ($13.8 billion), so it’s quite huge.”
“But I must say that a very large part of it, more than 12 billion… is coming from five member states,” he added.
This is coming ahead of an informal meeting of EU justice ministers held by the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency.
Reynders refused to name the five countries but said he expected the other members of the 27-member bloc to step up efforts soon.
Speaking on the Russian assets frozen, German Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, said that Germany alone has frozen Russian assets worth 4.48 billion euros in mid-June.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Justice Minister, Denys Maliuska, said that the assets should be used to cover compensation for war damages.
Maliuska said that “Currently they are protected by sovereign immunity but our understanding is that assets of a state (that) started a war, committed aggression, shall not be protected by sovereign immunity.
“We are suffering from economic losses and it does not make sense to cover all those losses with Ukrainian or European taxpayers’ money.”
It was reported that an international sanctions task force said that at the end of June, its members, including several EU countries, had blocked $30 billion in assets belonging to Russian oligarchs and officials.
The Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs Task Force also said that its members — who also include Britain, Canada, Japan, the US and other allies — had immobilised $300 billion owned by the Russian central bank.
Media reports showed that the EU has so far adopted six sanction packages against Russia, including a ban on most Russian oil imports approved in early June.
On this background, a total of 98 companies and 1,158 individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have seen their property frozen and been banned from entering the EU.

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Nollywood actress and producer of “Jenifa's Diary,” Funke Akindele, has explained why she accepted to be the running mate to the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor.
Akindele said she saw it as an opportunity to improve the wellbeing of youths, women and girls.

She posted this on her verified Instagram handle on Tuesday.
The Ikorodu-born indigene of Lagos, said, “I saw it as an opportunity to help liberate and improve the wellbeing of our people, particularly the deprived youth, women and the girl child.
"My decision is not just to accept this huge responsibility but to also work tirelessly and complement Jandor’s burning desire to see our dear Lagos live up to its full potential.”
Meanwhile, she excluded her estranged husband’s name, Abdulrasheed Bello, in the video.
SaharaReporters had reported that Akindele emerged as the running mate to the Lagos State opposition PDP.
Akindele was among the candidates listed as possible running mate to Adediran a few days ago but has now emerged as the preferred candidate.
This comes amid the actress’s divorce saga after her husband, a music producer, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, recently announced on his Instagram page that their marriage had hit the rocks.

       
View this post on Instagram                      

A post shared by Funke Akindele Bello (@funkejenifaakindele)

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Zamfara Governor, Matawalle.

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday, urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to extend the retirement age of military personnel in the country to 70.
He further noted that the entry age limit for Direct Short Service of the Nigerian armed forces should be extended from 30 to 32 years to accommodate more able bodied men and women that are willing to serve their fatherland to secure Nigeria.

Zamfara Governor, Matawalle.
Governor Matawalle made this appeal in a video obtained by SaharaReporters in his village, Maradun.
He explained that if the retirement age was extended, it would afford those of them that are not tired to continue to serve the country.
He said this would help sustain successes recorded in the fight on terror and insecurity.
The governor said, “As you know that we are facing the issue of insecurity in Zamfara. I want to make Zamfara the most peaceful state in Nigeria. I want to make the people of Zamfara secure.”
“I will ensure that Zamfara is the most peaceful state, the most secure state in Nigeria. I’m working with some security to achieve this. I want to appeal to the Federal Government to extend the retirement age of the security personnel to 70 years just like it did to university lecturers and some teachers. My belief is simple, most of those who retire are not tired," he added.

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The Nigeria Army has deployed its personnel to mount roadblocks in some major locations in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Last Tuesday, ISWAP terrorists attacked Kuje Correctional Centre, freeing hundreds of inmates, including Jihadists held at the prison facility.

On Friday, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) revealed the names and photos of some of the inmates who escaped from the correctional facility following the attack.
One of the suspected terrorists who escaped during the invasion, Hassan Hassan, was recently recaptured in Nasarawa State.
Another fugitive, Sidi, was arrested on Monday by the NDLEA at the Area 1 motor park in Abuja while attempting to board a commercial vehicle to Maiduguri, Borno State.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had raised the alarm over planned attacks by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It also said that the Islamic terrorists had declared war against Christians in Nigeria, saying that was why they attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre and released some of their fighters to sustain the attack.
NSCDC disclosed this in letter with Ref: No; NSCDC/CMDT/FCT/INT/VOL.X/188 addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration and was by FCT Commandant, Peter Maigari.
However, the current situation in Abuja had left many pedestrians in the heavy traffic on the Abuja-Keffi Road on Sunday night following a roadblock mounted by soldiers stationed opposite Mogadishu Barracks, otherwise, called Abacha Barracks.
The barricade caused gridlock that morphed from the Nyanya bound side of the barracks to as far as AYA bridge.
The traffic has also caused many vehicles heading towards Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu, New Karu, Keffi, and Jos among other places, to be trapped on the road into the early hours of yesterday.
According to ThisDay, soldiers had set up barriers in Madalla on the Zuba-Abuja-Kaduna express road in their hunt for some of the Kuje prison escapees, who might contemplate infiltrating Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa states that border the FCT.

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A former Catholic Monk, Remiugius Nwaju, who is standing trial for killing his wife, Late Philomena has told Justice Odugu of the Enugu State High Court that he married her out of sympathy.
Nwaju told the court in his efforts to draw sympathy of the judge to grant him bail that he is 46 years and his late wife was 67 years.

The ex-Monk who is standing trial for murder in Suit No: E/215m/2022 has been in detention facility of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Enugu since November 2021.
He was arrested in November 26, 2021 by operatives of the Enugu Police Command. Subsequently, he was arraigned before a magistrate court and remanded in custody.
SaharaReporters reported that his lawyers in a desperate effort to secure his bail allegedly forged a medical report from the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT-Parklane) which the hospital had since denied issuing.
Nwaju, in statement made to police on 26/11/2021, said he got married to his late wife, who was former Dean Student Affairs, Madonna University, Anambra State in 2008.
Having claimed he is 46 and wife was 67 years at her death; it means the accused was 32 years and deceased wife was 51 years when they got married.
The former Catholic Monk, who is being accused of killing his wife, who was also a major Distributor of Nigeria Brewery Plc products because of her wealth, had reported to have dated the deceased for six years before the actual marriage. 
However, when the hearing for his bail application came up on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 he told the court that contrary to the 49 years ascribed to his name, he is actually aged 46, while the actual age of late wife was 67 and not 64.
In a question-and-answer session between Mr. Remigius Nwaju and Hon. Justice Odugu, after the counsel had adopted their processes, Mr. Nwaju told the court that he was at Awhum Monastery as a monk where he met Philomena as a spiritual daughter, that when they denied him ordination as a priest he travelled to America.
Barrister B. C. Oguine, who is holding the fiat of Honourable Attorney General of Enugu State to prosecute the case on behalf of Enugu State Government, told SaharaReporters that Nwaju had confirmed that he is 46 years while Philomena was 67 years. He further confirmed that they adopted two children because late Philomena had passed the age of child bearing when he married her.
"When asked who sponsored him to America, he claimed it was the church, to see if he could become a priest there. When same could not work out he came back and started business.
"When asked who brought the money for the business, he answered that he brought N30million while late Philomena brought N25million.
"The court further asked him how he got N30million considering he was a Monk and his age when he got married to the deceased; he answered that he was doing jobs while in America. He claimed he lived with late Philomena for six years before he finally married her out of sympathy.
"When the court asked surprisingly how he lived with a woman as a former, he changed and answered that he was living alone while she was visiting.
"He further claimed that late Philomena Nwaju was Dean of Students Affairs at Madonna University and it was she who signed all expulsion of cult students and those involved in examination malpractices.
"When the court asked if he suspected that Philomena was killed by these students he answered in the negative."
Oguine, however, stated that the extensive question and answer session was highly uncalled for but said the Judge freely indulged the defendant who seized the opportunity to ventilate his innocence in the death of his wife.
"The presiding judge clearly went beyond the call of duty in engaging in that exercise during a highly contested bail application."

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A civic group, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has dragged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Attorney-General of Lagos and the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly to the High court of Lagos Holding in Ikeja Judicial Division following the controversy over the validity of Lagos State Parking Authority Law.
LASPA was established in 2021 and headed by Adebisi Adelabu, as General Manager.

The government had claimed it created the agency to enforce parking violations and offences in the state.
In a suit, ID/5927GCM/2022, the claimant (The incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Center) prays the court to repeal the law Lagos State Parking Authority Law, Law of Lagos State Ch. L50, Volume 6, which is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The group through its Counsel, David Ogungbesan Esq, seeks interpretation on the following questions:
“Whether by virtue of Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the 2nd Defendant validly enacted the Lagos State Parking Authority Law, Law of Lagos State Ch. L50, Volume 6 as a law for Lagos State.
“ii. Whether the Lagos State Government can validly take control of all bus-stops, parks and garages in the State through the Lagos State Parking Authority considering Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“iii. Whether in view of Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Lagos State Parking Authority Law, Law of Lagos State Ch. L50, Volume 6 should be declared void as being inconsistent with Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal of Nigeria (as amended).”
According to the claimant, Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that one of the main functions of a Local Government Council in Nigeria is the establishment, maintenance and regulation of motor parks.
"That the Lagos State Parking Authority Law is inconsistent with the provision of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). That by Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Lagos State Parking Authority Law is null and void.”
In its originating summons brought pursuant to Order 5 Rule 4 & 5 of the High Court of Lagos State (CIVIL Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, HEDA maintained that the Defendants: Lagos State Governor, Attorney General of Lagos State (Ministry of Justice) and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, flagrantly ignored the Supreme law (1999 constitution) as amended, and went ahead to enact the law under review.
Upon the Court's resolution of the above questions, the Claimant seeks the following reliefs: “i. A Declaration that by virtue of Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Lagos State Parking Authority Law, Law of Lagos State Ch. L50, Volume 6 is void being inconsistent with Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“ii. A Declaration that the Lagos State Parking Authority Law, Law of Lagos State Ch. L50, Volume 6 being inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) stands repealed.
“iii. A Declaration that each Local Government Area in Lagos State shall maintain, control and manage all parks, bus-stops and garages that falls within their respective areas in Lagos State as provided for in Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“iv. And such further Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
Counsel to HEDA said it was waiting for the case to be assigned to a court for adjudication.

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Popular Nollywood actress and producer of “Jenifa's Diary”, Funke Akindele, has finally confirmed news that she has joined politics and will be contesting under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The actress finally shared a statement which revealed why she decided to be the running mate to the PDP governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran, more commonly called Jandor.

Funke also revealed that her career as an actress would take the back seat as she begins the journey to make Lagos a better place.
SaharaReporters had reported that Akindele emerged as the running mate to the Lagos State opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran.
Akindele was among the candidates listed as possible running mate to Adediran a few days ago but has now emerged as the preferred candidate.
This comes amid the actress’s divorce saga after her husband, a music producer, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, recently announced on his Instagram page that their marriage had hit the rocks.
Sources close to the party’s governorship candidate and the leadership of the party had confirmed Akindele's choice as running mate, saying that she would be unveiled soon as “it has not been announced officially.”

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President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, Bola Tinubu, announced Kashim Shettima, as his running mate before briefing the APC northern governors’ forum.
The President said Tinubu made the announcement because some sections of the media already had the information.

Buhari said this at a meeting with governors of his party on Monday, in Daura, Katsina State, while pacifying the aggrieved state chief executives over the manner the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu, announced his choice of running mate.
The governors, who had met Buhari to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir, expressed their displeasure with Tinubu over the manner he announced Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, as his partner.
The governors, 10 of them, were led by Chairman of the Progressives Governor’s Forum, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, along with the host governor, Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
Others were; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Governor Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi); Governor Abubakar Bello (Niger); Governor Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Governor Hope Uzodinma (lmo); Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).
The governors, who drove into Buhari’s residence around 1:10pm, and immediately commenced meeting, however, finished at about 1:55pm, after which they had a lunch.
SaharaReporters had reported that Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday officially announced a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim, as his running mate.
This followed a closed-door meeting involving Tinubu, Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari and President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura.

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The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in collaboration with Yar’Adua Foundation has announced that it is set to launch the Corruption Anonymous (CORA) whistleblowing platform at Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja.
AFRICMIL Coordinator, Chido Onumah, in a statement said that the CORA platform, which will be launched on Thursday, July 14, is a secure civil society-driven public whistleblowing tool through which citizens could submit tips on corruption and other forms of wrongdoing anonymously.

Jointly developed by AFRICMIL and the Yar’Adua Foundation, the platform aims at strengthening the whistleblowing policy of the Nigerian government.   
Onumah said that “The CORA platform will complement the government’s whistleblowing platform managed by PICA and provide Nigerians an opportunity to participate, using whistleblowing, in consolidating the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”
Onumah also noted that the CORA reporting tool is hosted on the Partners United platform, a knowledge exchange site developed by Yar’Adua Foundation with the support of MacArthur Foundation to bring together persons and groups dedicated to ensuring accountability in Nigeria. 
During the launch of the platform, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, who also oversees the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) that manages the whistleblowing policy, Zainab Ahmed, and the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, will deliver special remarks.
Also, goodwill messages are expected from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Also as part of the launch event, there will be a panel on “practical approaches and best practices for incentivizing whistleblowing in Nigeria,” comprising Mr. Oke Epia, Executive Director, OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative; Mr. Johnson Oludare, Assistant Director, Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA); Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson, ICPC, and Mr. Ayo Olowonihi, Commandant, EFCC Academy.
The event will feature a video vignette on how to blow the whistle on corruption using the CORA tool.

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has faulted the position of President Muhammadu Buhari that the Nigerian government lacked financial resources to fund the University education in Nigeria and resolve the ongoing strike by lecturers.
Falana, who is also the Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), said Buhari should immediately submit a Supplementary budget to the National Assembly for the appropriation of the sum of N200 billion required to revamp the federal universities.

Buhari, who is the Visitor to all federal universities in the country, had on Monday, urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to consider the long-term effects of the strike on students and the generational consequences on families, the educational system and the future development of the country.
While lamenting that the strike was already taking a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that already beg for attention, the President had said that “enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake."
ASUU had declared warning strike on February 24, 2022 to force the federal government to implement 2009 ASUU/FG Agreement which Buhari's regime reneged.
Meanwhile, Falana in a release obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, described as preposterous that the federal government would say it lacked financial resources to fund university education, when it spent trillions in fuel subsidy and other areas while over N6trillion had also been expended in fighting insurgency with no tangible results.
The human rights lawyer in a statement titled: "Time to end ASUU strike by President Muhammadu Buhari," said that the demand of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is in accordance with the FG/ASUU Agreement whose terms are binding on the Federal Government.
The statement reads, "Four months ago, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced the current strike to compel the Federal Government to comply with the FG/ASUU Agreement on funding of all federal universities in Nigeria.

"According to the binding Agreement the total fund which the Federal Government ought to have provided to revamp the universities is N200 billion in line with its obligation under the Agreement. Before then, the warning strikes embarked upon by ASUU was ignored by the Federal Government.
"Thus, the ongoing industrial action which has paralysed the federal universities has lingered on due to the refusal of the Federal Government to meet its commitment under the FG/ASUU Agreement. However, in justifying the unwarranted breach of the Agreement the Federal Government has complained of lack of fund."
"Instead of addressing the outstanding grey areas in the prolonged negotiations, President Muhammadu Buhari who is the Visitor to all federal universities in the country has urged ASUU to call off the strike."
He added, "The claim of the Federal Government that it lacks the financial resources to fund university education has been taken with a pinch of salt by the Nigerian people.  Having regard to the way and manner huge public fund has been expended on other projects it does appear that the Federal Government has not prioritised higher education.
"For instance, the electricity sector and the counter insurgency operations in two regions in the country have consumed not less than N6 trillion without any tangible result. The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) claims that N5.4 trillion is owed by a section of the comparador bourgeoisie whose toxic debts were bought with public fund.
"Even though N443 billion was spent on the importation of fuel from January to June 2022 the National Assembly has approved N4 trillion for the same product from July to December 2022 due to the comatose status of the nation’s refineries.
"The Federal Government has also made available N100 billion for revamping the textile industry; N850 billion for rice production; N250 billion for autogas vehicle conversion and N228 for school feeding programme. Apart from its annual budget of N40 billion the Independent National Electoral Commission has received N100 billion as the first tranche of the 2022 budget to conduct the 2023 general elections.
"A government that can afford to spend trillions of Naira on the aforesaid projects cannot afford to ignore the funding of higher education."

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Garba Shehu

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, has said that the payment of ransom by families of kidnapped victims is fuelling terrorism in the country.
According to Shehu during an interview on Channels TV on Monday monitored by SaharaReporters, kidnappings would continue until Nigerians stop paying ransoms and allow the security agents to do their job.

Garba Shehu
“You’re mentioning all of these about kidnappers and the people that have been taken and the President even in his Sallah message mentioned an appeal he was making to fellow citizens to expose them (the criminals), tell the security agencies where they are and sometimes you also can sympathise with the family members in that highly emotive situation.
“The first priority for most of them is to get their family back and they are willing to pay, and they’ve paid and these payments, whether anybody likes it or not, will continue to fuel terrorism, we have to learn from experiences in other lands that when you pay, you’re fuelling terrorism, you’re fuelling the hijack and kidnapping of fellow citizens and it will go on and on until simply people call off the bluff and be prepared to allow law enforcement.”
Speaking on the attack on the Kuje Prison by the Islamic State of West Africa Province which has claimed responsibility for the attack, Shehu said there was no country with zero criminality and the security agents should be allowed to complete their investigations.
“I’m a Nigerian, I have family members that live in the society, I don’t come from the moon, I feel it and I have never in anyway suggested that there’s no hardship in the country, I have never in any place or position indicated that there’s no criminality.”
 

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Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi, was one of those who escaped during last Tuesday’s terrorists’ attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had in a video claimed responsibility for the attack.

In the video, the terrorist sect showed some of its men were shooting their way into the facility.
According to the Nigerian government, 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack.
“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack.
“As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at the moment.
“However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates,” Spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Umar Abubakar, had said.
Multiple security sources on Tuesday confirmed to SaharaReporters that the husband to the late gospel singer was among the escaped inmates.
“During our roll call yesterday, we discovered that the husband of the late gospel singer was missing,” a senior prison official told SaharaReporters.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Wuse had on June 3 remanded Nwachukwu at the Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the hearing and determination of the homicide-related suit instituted against him by the Attorney General of the Federation.
His wife died on April 8 and many of her colleagues had accused her husband of subjecting the deceased to domestic violence, leading to her death.
Nwachukwu was alleged to have kicked Osinachi in the chest, leading to a blood clot that eventually killed her.
Singer, Frank Edwards, also disclosed that an “unreasonable human” put an end to her life.

There are reports that Osinachi refused to leave the marriage despite domestic violence because of her commitment to the church.
Afterwards, the police arrested Nwachukwu and he was charged to court.
The government claimed that he contravened Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Section 221 of the Penal Code; and the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act  2015.
Some of the counts (such as culpable homicide) recommend death penalty, one-year jail term or fine (VAPP Act), among others.
Part of the charges read: “That you, Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the 8th of April, 2022, at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your acts.
“Statement of offence: Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse contrary to Section 14(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
“Particular of offence: That you, Peter Nwachukwu, male, sometime between 14th November 2009 and April 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit: emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu (deceased) by humiliating her and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members.”
 

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