The Nigerian government has released the results of the 2022 National Common entrance examination for admission into the federal government unity colleges.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, while presenting highlights of the results in Abuja said the candidate with the highest score is Miss Ajidagba Mariam Akanke, an indigene of Sokoto State with her centre at Oshodi Junior Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Apapa, Lagos State.

The National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) is for admission into the first year of Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) of Federal Unity Colleges, administered to final year pupils of Primary schools.
The examination was written on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Nigeria, as well as the Benin Republic and Togo.
A total number of 71,738 pupils were registered, with 34,030 being males and 37,708 being females.
The Minister of Education said the state that registered the highest number of candidates was Lagos State with 19,518, out of which 18,787 sat and 731 were absent while FCT was second with 8,623 candidates that registered, out of which 8,317 sat while 306 were absent.
Anambra State came third with 5,335 candidates that registered, out of which 5,070 sat and 265 were absent.
Zamfara State was fourth with 4,500 candidates registered, out of which 3,745 sat and 755 were absent.
While the state that registered the least number of candidates is Kebbi with 74 candidates.
The minister represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. David Adejo, said the lowest score was 1mark and it was scored by 15 candidates from various states.
According to the minister, the criteria for selection of qualified candidates into Federal Unity Colleges are 60% merit, 30% equality of state and 10% exigency.
The Registrar National Examination Council NECO Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, said the overall performance for 2022 was higher than that of last year.
He affirmed that admission processes would be completed on or before Friday 1st July 2022

 

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The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād, has claimed that its fighters killed three soldiers during an attack on a military barrack in Monguno, Borno State.
Monguno is North, about 70km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital and hosted thousands of Internally Displaced Persons mostly from Dikwa and Marte council areas.

ISWAP in a post said the soldiers were “killed with automatic weapons while others were injured during an attack on a military barracks in the community last week.”
According to the terror group, its “fighters burnt a military operational vehicle and captured another one.”
The terrorists added that three humanitarian workers allegedly from Red Cross Society were abducted.
Since the death of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad.
Just recently, it appointed Wali Sani Shuwaram, a 45-year-old as the new Leader (Wali) of ISWAP in Lake Chad.
The sect’s membership has swollen with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters under Shekau.
The Nigerian Army has repeatedly claimed that insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.
The terror group has caused over 100,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.

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At least 11 women were among 296 drug offenders arrested, while over 3000 kilograms of illicit drugs were seized by operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Adamawa State.
SaharaReporters learnt that a drug baron who masterminded the mob attack that killed and set ablaze an NDLEA officer, while another operative was beaten to stupor two years ago was also arrested.

SaharaReporters had reported on October 9, 2020, that Samuel Abba Birma, an officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, was burnt to death on mistaken identity in Adamawa State.
Birma, popularly known as Mbakwe, was killed while his colleague sustained fatal injuries from the mob action in the Hong Local Government Area of the state, according to police report.
At an event to mark the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, on Monday in Yola, the state capital, Commander of NDLEA Femi Samson Agboalu said 296 drug criminals had been successfully prosecuted within one year.
Among the seized illicit substances was 2000 kilograms of cannabis sativa concealed in a motorised concrete mixer, which was impounded at Girei in the Girei Local Government Area of the state.
Agboalu said, “Total drug seizure recorded in the period under review is 3,107.778 kg. Also, 28 live ammunition, a locally made pistol and a military camouflage were transferred to the Nigerian police, along with the suspects in view of inter-agency cooperation and synergy. 
"On the prosecution of drug suspects in court, the command performed creditably as 104 male drug offenders were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, ranging from lowest sentence of six months to the highest sentence of four years without an option of fine in the period under review." 
"Also in our custody for prosecution is the arrest of a notorious drug baron in Hong arrested with 57 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa, concealed in the boot of his Ash coloured Toyota Corolla car on the 16 June, 2022. 
"The suspect, Abdullahi Musa, aka Yerima Uding, was fingered as the mastermind of the mob attack in Hong on October 6, 2020 that led to the burning and death of an NDLEA operative and another officer was brutally beaten to stupor and had since been bedridden, leading to his permanent incapacitation", he said. 
Agboalu urged journalists as critical stakeholders, to play their role by sharing real facts on drugs situation, health risks, emphasising the negative effects of drug abuse on the individual, family, community, the economy, while de-emphasizing the financial gains of trafficking in drugs.

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Traditionalists in Okija town in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State in the South-East region brought out their charms to display on the highway of the town, as part of efforts to wade off the activities of gunmen and cultists in the area.
Ihiala LGA is one of the most terrorised areas by gunmen and cultists in the state, especially between the last years of former Governor Willie Obiano’s administration and the first three months of the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s government.

In a video posted by a Facebook user and seen by SaharaReporters, the traditionalists, men and women could be seen in different wear, red and white, dragging their charms of various types on the road while they made incantations.
The post attached to the video read, “All the traditionalists have come out to say that enough is enough for the kidnapping, stealing, killing, and all the cult activities in Okija today.”
One of the traditionalists in a white long gown with a metal gong popularly known as “ogene” in Igbo language said that all the traditionalists of the Okija land should come together to say “enough is enough for crimes and abominations in Okija.” 
“What is happening in Okija is that all the traditionalists in Okija came together to say that everything called crime and abomination must stop in Okija,” the traditionalist who did not mention his name said.
The leader of the traditionalists in dreadlock and red attire, identified by the videographer as Agbalanze Nwanifurude, said, “We cannot be in our land and live in fear. We did not hurt anyone. Anyone who wants to flex muscles should go to another place and do that.
“But it is not for us to live in fear in our own land; for them to oppress us; that is why we decided to use what we have to protect ourselves because that is how it has always been. We are saving ourselves with what we have. Let whoever wants to come against us come and die on the way.”
Recall that Okija which is said to be the largest town in Ihiala LGA is the custodian of the dreaded Okija Shrine or Ogwuwu Akpu which trended in 2019 over the alleged killings and other horrible activities that were associated with the shrine.
Okija Shrine was famous as people from various parts of the Southeast land and other places came there to administer oaths on anyone suspected to have committed one offence or the other.
Where the shrine finds the accused person guilty, the person dies a mysterious death and his remains would not be buried until certain rituals were performed.
But beyond that, it was alleged that people involved in money rituals and other criminal killings were taking unsuspecting members of the general public for sacrifices, an accusation that leaders of the community denied.

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Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has insisted that despite his travails, he is not backing down from the struggles for the independence of the Yoruba Nation.

 

He stated this on Sunday in a video released to wish Oba Francis Olusola Alao, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, a happy birthday.

Igboho called on the Olugbon to speak to other Yoruba monarchs to desist from appointing 'unqualified persons’ to positions of authority, saying the menace of insecurity is affecting every part of the South-West region.

 

He also warned that things might go sour if Yoruba people get angry over the appointment of ‘unqualified persons’.

 

He advised the monarchs in the region to convene a meeting and discuss the security situation in the South-West.

 

He also debunked reports from some quarters that he is no longer interested in the struggle for the Yoruba Nation.

 

He said, “I salute my father, Olugbon as he's celebrating his birthday today in Oyo State. Kabiyesi, you'll live longer. I want to use this opportunity to advise you, sir, though I'm not worthy of advising you. I just want to use this opportunity to explain that I wouldn't want you to toe the path of other monarchs who are appointing unqualified persons into positions of authority.

On #YorubaNation mandate we stand, no going back. Tell our Monarchs to stand for truth and justice for their people. Happy #FathersDay to all Omoluabis. How many likes for Oloye Sunday Igboho Oosha? pic.twitter.com/h6JRkLd2S4

— Yoruba Nation CH (@YorubaNationCH) June 19, 2022

“Our people are being killed by these sets of persons yet some people are still crowning them and it's not supposed to be so. Kabiyesi, you'll live long. Kindly advise these kings that what they've done is not good because when Yoruba get angry, things may go sour. Please, sir, today is your birthday, help us advise them to stop.

 

“I, Sunday Adeyemo, and all those who are with me on this issue of Yoruba Nation, there's no going back for us. If there are rumours here and there that we've backed down, those are superstitions. We want the Yoruba Nation, we want to be free from slavery because what God has given us on our land is enough to feed us.

 

“I want you the Yoruba monarchs to call a meeting, come together, you can see how our people are being killed everywhere, this is not good. Please come together and support us, may you live long. Yoruba Nation, no going back. Thank you."

 

 

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that its operatives arrested 82 suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo Boys’ in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital; Enugu State; and Asaba, Delta State.

 

According to the Commission, 17 of the suspects were arrested on June 16, at the Akobo area of Ibadan following credible intelligence on their alleged fraudulent activities, while the other 18 suspects were arrested by officers of 2 Division of Nigerian Army, Ibadan and handed over to the Commission.

The EFCC, on its Twitter handle on Monday, said that the 18 suspects handed over to it by Lieutenant Goni Tijjani Ibrahim, on behalf of the Army, were arrested at Ihejirika Garden, near the Army Cantonment, Ibadan following a series of complaints from the residents regarding their fraudulent activities.

 

The ones arrested by the EFCC in Ibadan include Taiwo Babalola Oluwatope, Adekunle Odewale Damilola, Lawal Ismail Adebola, Salau Ayobami Adeyemi, Adebowale Samuel Amusan, Abioye Oluwatobi Alex, Akinola Adekunle, and Salau Opeyemi Saheed.

Others arrested by the anti-graft agency are Ugwu Osita, Adedun Olajide Temidire, Adegbenro Adeola Damilare, Emmanuel Oluwatobi Ajala, Ojekale Samuel Ayodimeji, Adebayo Babatunde Teslim, Micheal Ayomide, Opeyemi Sonuola and Adetona Oladimeji Abdulazeez.

Thirty-Five Internet Fraud Suspects Arrested in Ibadan

Thirty-five suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. pic.twitter.com/S3UFEhvBYU

— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) June 20, 2022

The 18 suspects handed over to the Commission by the Army are Adeotun Omodele, Lamidi Abeeb, Lawal Muhammed, Kolapo Samad, Akinpelu Gbotemi, Ahmed Rilwan, Sodiq Adebayo, Mohammed Salami, Muyiwa Adeyeye, Awojoola Muiz, Ogunyemi Ayobami, Gabriel Ikyelede, Olamide Adekunle, Isaac Elijah, Azeez Yusuf, Damilola Muritala, Opeyemi Nurudeen and Olamide Lamidi.

 

Items recovered from the suspects arrested by the EFCC include seven exotic cars, mobile phones, laptops, one smart television set and incriminating documents; while items handed over to Commission alongside the 18 suspects include mobile phones and one smart wristwatch.

 

Also on Thursday, June 16, 2022, the EFCC arrested 47 suspected internet fraudsters from the Ugboewerem area of Trans Ekulu, Enugu State and Asaba, Delta State.

The suspects include Asadu Onyedikachukwu Paul, Chukwugozie Innocent Emmanuel, Stanley Eze Chiedozie, Enete Onyedikachi, Ezeh Onyebuchi, Anyamele Kelechi, Nnadi Emmnanuel, Onyishi Chiadikaobi, Arinze Dominic Harrison, Ike Emmannuel Ebube, Moses Tochukwu Nnamani, Harrison Kingsley Ebube, Obinna Christian Ezema, Obimdike Ugochukwu Udoka, Kelvin Ufort, Akuba Chinedu, Ikechukwu Chinedu Nwajei, Cyprian Ifeanyi, Chinonso Ofozor, Uche Ozoemena Jenson and Ebuka Nnam.

Others are: Osita Ujuatonu, Emeka Akabuike, Onwudiwe Onyeka, Gerald Obi, Nnaji Cyprian, Chiyehuaku Michael, Odinaka Akalue, Michael Akabuike,Cyprian Okobi, Ebuka Nwojie, Victor Emmanuel Onyebuchi, Nnaemeka Onyekachi, Obum Cukwuma Michael, Noble Nnezi Oluchukwu, Nnezi Favour, Okpala Nzube Chinonso, Donald Amakwe, Trust Nwaeze, Festus Elum, Collins Ezioji, Iloh Benjamin Chukwudibia, Samuel Ogwumike, Okoye Christian, Iweabunashi Cyprain, Augustin  Akpos Austin, Onyema ThankGod, Nwaoje Steven, Dafe Menford, Aguka Michael, Obeta Ifeanyi, and Awanya Jide Chukwu.

Items recovered from them in the course of the sting operations include one Toyota Camry with registration number ASB 393 EA, two Lexus with registration numbers ABC 340 KQ and RRT 53 AG, one Mercedes Benz C300 with registration number ABC 608 KP, one Lexus RX350, one Toyota Camry with registration number NCA 354 DD, one Lexus ES330 with registration number KSF 183 HE, one Mercedes Benz GLK, several mobile phones and laptop computers.

 

The anti-graft agency said all the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

 

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North Korea has reported an outbreak of an unidentified intestinal disease amidst the country’s battle with food shortages and a wave of Covid-19 infections.

According to CNN, the country has dispatched medical crews and epidemiology investigators to the province battling the outbreak of the disease.

The new outbreak was first reported on Thursday.

The newspaper also reports that at least 800 families suffering from what North Korea has only called an "acute enteric epidemic" have received aid so far in South Hwanghae Province, about 75 miles south of the capital Pyongyang.

Enteric refers to the gastrointestinal tract and South Korean officials say it may be cholera or typhoid.

On Sunday, state news agency KCNA detailed prevention efforts, including quarantines, "intensive screening for all residents," and special treatment and monitoring of vulnerable people such as children and the elderly.

A national "Rapid Diagnosis and Treatment Team" is working with local health officials, and measures are being taken to ensure that farming is not disrupted in the key agricultural area, KCNA said.

Disinfection work is being carried out, including of sewage and other waste, to ensure the safety of drinking and household water, the report said.

 

State newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Friday said medicines prepared by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and others, including his sister, would be delivered to families in South Hwanghae Province.

 

It is difficult to independently verify North Korea's claims due to a lack of free press in the country.

 

Ryu Yong Chol, the official in charge of emergency epidemic work in North Korea, warned viewers on state television Monday that enteric diseases could spread through infected people's belongings, food and drinks. Strictly isolating patients is important to prevent its spread, he said.

Apart from typhoid and cholera, the polio virus, hepatitis A virus, and dysentery bacillus are among the pathogens that cause enteric diseases, Ryu said.

 

News of the "enteric epidemic" comes as North Korea continues to battle Covid-19, or what it calls "fevered cases."

 

KCNA reported another 19,310 new fever cases on Sunday, without detailing how many of those patients had tested positive for the coronavirus.

 

Overall, more than 4.6 million have shown fever symptoms since a Covid outbreak was first acknowledged in mid-May. As of June 19, 73 "fever" deaths have been reported by KCNA.

 

As with North Korean claims of the "acute enteric epidemic," it is difficult to independently verify the case numbers and recoveries reported by North Korean state media.

 

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The Nigeria Police have arrested a 26-year-old man, said to be a notorious social media fraudster, Musa Lurwanu Maje.

He is popularly known on social media as Musa L Maje in Kano State.

A statement issued by the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on Sunday confirmed a manhunt had been launched for the suspect following public complaints about the Maje’s activities on social media platforms.

According to the police, Maje is known for using male and female names, pictures, and videos, and creating various accounts on Facebook, WhatsApp, and some others, to defraud people.

In the statement, Haruna-Kiyawa said, “between April and June 2022, there was a public outcry on the activities of the notorious fraudster on various social media platforms”.

“One Zahra Mansur, 20, complained that she received phone calls from her associates that someone uses her name, pictures, videos, created Facebook accounts defrauding people,” he said.

He said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, then instructed a team of detectives, led by SP Shehu Dahiru, to arrest the culprit.

Haruna-Kiyawa said that the team immediately swung into action using technical support.

“Sustained efforts and intelligence-led follow-up led to the arrest of the suspect, Musa Lurwanu-Maje of Sitti village, Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come under pressure to release some agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress engaging in vote-buying during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

 

The EFCC was part of the security agencies deployed to monitor the election.

On Saturday, SaharaReporters reported how operatives of the anti-graft agency arrested some APC agents for engaging in vote-buying during the poll.

 

Some of them were paraded at Oke Ori Omi Area Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

 

They were said to have been caught with monies allegedly used to induce voters, an act the EFCC officials say was carried out surreptitiously.

 

The EFCC thereafter proceeded to bust another residence where some persons were caught with a book containing details of voters of a certain voting area.

 

At the end of the poll, Biodun Oyebanji of the APC won the election.

 

A source on Monday said top leaders in the ruling party, APC, are mounting pressure on the chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa to order the release of those arrested.

He was also asked to drop all charges against the suspect.

 

“We’re under pressure to release those APC agents found with cash and arrested for vote-buying and not to charge them to court.

“There have been calls from top politicians asking us to free them despite existing laws in the Electoral Act which forbid the inducement of voters,” a source in the anti-graft agency told SaharaReporters.

Anti-corruption Groups Kick 
Speaking to SaharaReporters, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo asked the anti-graft agency to resist the pressure from the ruling party.

 

“The EFCC should resist the pressure from the APC. No one is above the law. As an institution created by law, I urge the EFCC to ensure diligent prosecution in holding the suspects to account for their illegal and unlawful behaviour,” he said.

 

“The only way to address institutionalised impunity is to ensure any individual or group of individuals who exhibit criminal behaviour is sanctioned in line with the law.”

 

Speaking also, the Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran asked the EFCC to ensure that no offender gets released without prosecution.

 

“I believe that EFCC knows what to do, there is no time EFCC and other anti-graft agencies don’t have pressure on them when they arrest those involved in corrupt practices, so it’s not supposed to be new to them. They are the ones that should do the needful, and not be seen as accomplices.

 

“Because if truly they caught those engaged in vote-buying and they have good evidence and witnesses against them, there is no reason why they should succumb to any pressure.

 

“Politicians will always want to eat their cake and have it. It is the anti-corruption agency, EFCC in this case that should follow the part of honour and ensure that no offender goes scot-free,” he told SaharaReporters.

 

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Femi Falana, SAN.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, requesting information on the Electoral Offences Commission Bill passed by the Senate and forwarded to the House in July 2021.

Falana’s letter dated June 17, 2022, a soft copy of which was obtained by SaharaReporters, noted that Nigeria's electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is empowered to prosecute electoral offenders under section 150 of the repealed Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
Femi Falana, SAN.

However, the Commission could not discharge the statutory duty because of an alleged lack of resources, leading to its failure to prosecute one percent of the 870,000; 900,000 and 1,100,000 electoral offenders arrested during the 2011, 2015 and 2019 general elections respectively.

 

The legal luminary pointed out that the Senate passed the Electoral Offences Commission Bill to stem the increasing wave of electoral impunity in the country but the House of Representatives has ignored the bill since July 14, 2021, when it was forwarded to it.

 

Falana warned that if the Speaker fails or refuses to provide the information requested in the letter, “we shall not hesitate to file an application for mandamus at the Federal High Court to compel you to disclose the requested information,” as the request is made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

 

The letter read, “As you are no doubt aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission was empowered to prosecute electoral offenders under section 150 of the repealed Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

“But the INEC was unable to discharge the statutory duty due to alleged lack of wherewithal. Hence, its failure to prosecute even one per cent of the 870,000, 900,000 and 1,100,000 million electoral offenders arrested during the 2011, 2015 and 2019 general elections respectively.

 

“In order to stop the increasing wave of electoral impunity, the Senate passed the Electoral Offences Commission Bill on July 14, 2021, and forwarded same to the House of Representatives.

“But the Bill has been ignored due to reasons best known to the members of the House of Representatives under your watch. Hence, section 145 of the Electoral Act 2022 has vested the Independent National Electoral Commission with the statutory duty to prosecute electoral offenders in the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 States of the Federation.

 

“Even though sections 114-121 of the Electoral Act have made adequate provisions for electoral offences the Independent National Electoral Commission does not have the capacity to arrest, investigate and prosecute electoral offenders.

“In the atmosphere of official impunity, the leading members of the political class have engaged themselves in the dollarisation of the electoral process, vote-buying, intimidation of political opponents, killing and thuggery, ballot snatching, etc. 

 

“In view of the foregoing, we are compelled to request the Honourable Speaker to furnish us with information on the Electoral Offences Commission Bill passed by the Senate and forwarded to the House of Representatives since July last year.

“As this request is made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 you are requested to provide the requested information within seven days of the receipt of this letter.

 

“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail or refuse to accede to our request, we shall not hesitate to file an application for mandamus at the Federal High Court to compel you to disclose the requested information.”

 

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FEMI Soyinka, Professor of Medicine may not be known much outside the medical field or outside the university system where he taught for thirty years. Certainly, he was known in the world of HIV/AIDS where he worked tirelessly to bring succour to the victims. He is of course far less known than his famous elder brother and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. But like his brother, he was a humanist and advocate of social justice.

Many of us who were in the University of Ife, UNIFE, now Obafemi Awolowo University in the 1980s knew Femi Soyinka quite well because he was a dependable ally of students and workers on campus who stood by the truth.

I recall an incident. On May 31, 1981, a 23-year old Part II History student, Bukola Arogundade, of Room 200, Awolowo Hall was abducted in Ile-Ife town and his head severed.

On June 7, 1981, the students populace decided to organise a procession to participate in his funeral. But the police led by Chief Superintendent of Police, Francis Osenweneiwe Ogbechie, who had ruled the procession illegal, laid ambush for the students at the intersection of the town and Ondo Road, near the Mayfair Hotel. They attacked the peaceful procession and in the process, four students, Miss Wemimo Akinbolu, Part III, Arts, Miss Fatimo Adebimpe, Part II, Education, Miss Dorcas Olubukola Ojewole, Part I, Arts, and Mr. Paul Adetunji Alonge, Associate Student, Education, were killed.

Government immediately announced that they did not die from the police attack, but through electrocution. It produced a Police Constable No 63591, Peter Ighotegha Ofrukama, who claimed that when his team got to the dead students, he touched the head of Miss Ojewole and received an “electric shock.”

The student populace and the university community would not buy this, arguing that if the four students were electrocuted when they touched each other, why was Ofrukama who pursued the students and claimed to have also received the electric shock alive and well?

They felt the government would seek to work to the given answer; that the students were electrocuted.

The Police turned to Dr. William Olufemi Odesanmi, a pathologist in the university who also worked for the police, to perform post mortem on the four students. His verdict was electrocution. Professor Femi Soyinka, who was the University’s Medical Director and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences decided to bring all possible evidence to light. This was  in accordance with the Vice Chancellor’s appeal that the Government Tribunal of Inquiry into the deaths, should be assisted in all ways.

One of the steps he took was to get the Senior  Mortuary Attendant, Mr. Lamidi Adediwura available to give evidence. But Dr. Odesanmi became panicky. He petitioned the Vice Chancellor alleging  that  Soyinka was trying to get the tribunal to obtain: “medical evidence from an illiterate attendant.”

He claimed that Soyinka’s action in sending the Mortuary Attendant to the Tribunal amounted to: “depriving a citizen of his right to liberty and right to earn a living.” He said the action also amounted to a threat on his life adding that: “Prof Femi Soyinka, my Dean, will have a case to answer should anything happen to me.”

But Soyinka was not deterred and insisted that all witnesses must be brought to the tribunal even if their evidence contradicted claims by other witnesses. Later, there were questions on the forensic report, but the clearly partisan Tribunal Chairman, Justice Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore rejected the appeal to recall Dr Odesanmi.

With the advent of HIV/AIDS, Soyinka turned to fighting the pandemic, mitigating its impact in the country, vigorously researching into it, fighting stigmatisation, participating in  prevention of mother-to-child transmission and encouraging Voluntary Counselling and Testing, VCT. On Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at his residence in Kukumada Village, Ibadan, Prof Femi Soyinka left.

 That same day he departed, a conscientious journalist, social mobiliser, gender activist and  Head of Human Security and Civil Society at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Raheemat Momodu, attended a meeting. We had worked as journalists and championed a brand of journalism under a radical group,  the New Trend Movement. She went on to become the Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ in Lagos State.

Then I moved to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC to become a full time trade unionist and she moved to the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES, as it Gender Equity Programme Officer.

Both organisations moved to Abuja, but FES, a socially conscious German organisation did not then have an office in the city. So it was accommodated in the Labour House headquarters of the NLC. So we ended up working in the same premises and became closer.

She had a colleague, Juliana Anosike with whom she struck a close relationship, and I teased them as ‘Siamese Twins.’

Then I moved on to become the Secretary General of African Workers which made me the workers’ representative in the African Union, AU. In 2013, I was surprised to find Raheemat at the AU African Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa. It was a happy reunion. She was at the AU as the ECOWAS Liaison Officer. Then I returned to Nigeria and she was also moved back to the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.

I sent her messages promising to visit. Then this Tuesday, June 14, 2022  there were messages that she might have passed on. I called her ‘twin’ Ms Anosike who said they spoke the previous day but had slumped while attending a meeting and was brought in to the hospital dead.

So, a country in dire need of heroes, lost two in one day.  But Nigeria is blessed because we throw up heroes, sometimes from unexpected sources. That was the case of  Ejiro Otarigho a fuel tanker driver. He was driving his fuel-laden tanker in a crowded part of the East-West Road, Agbarho, Ughelli, Delta State when his assistant alerted him the truck was on fire.

He glanced back and saw “a scary ball of fire.” The instinct of most would be to jump off a burning fuel tanker. But he was in a crowded area with residential houses and knew the flame would engulf the area burning people and property. He did the unthinkable. He asked his assistant to jump down while he drove the burning tanker for four kilometres out of the town towards the river.

He could not make it to the river, but when he got to an open space, he dived out before the entire vehicle became a huge fireball. Fortunately,  he was unhurt. His selfless example, taught Nigerians that although our leaders cannot secure lives and property and many would try  rationalise criminality in ethno-religious garbs, we will never  lack heroes.

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Owei Lakemfa Disable advertisements : 

The founder of Household of God Church, Reverend Chris Okotie has decried the imbalance in the government of Nigeria, which he attributed to the downward spiral of the country.

 

Okotie, however, appealed to all the presidential candidates in the 2023 election to withdraw for him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The cleric spoke to journalists in Lagos while celebrating his 63rd birthday.

 

According to the cleric, he's the "right person to right the wrongs in the country".

He, however, proposed an Interim government which he said would solve the country's challenges.

He urged the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress and Labour Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi respectively, and others to step down for him and support him so he can do the job required to correct the wrongs in the country.

He said, “I want to appeal to all presidential candidates to withdraw from the race and allow me to come in as the interim president. I want to implore Asiwaju to support my government for the betterment of the country and I also want to tell Obi that the system that introduced him cannot take him anywhere, because he cannot operate in the system we have now.

“All the presidential candidates should support me to succeed President Buhari as the interim president. We must also rise above tribe and religion because there is an imbalance in the country and we are not practising federalism instead, what we are practising is a presidential system of government.

“Since 1999, things have been declining because the presidential system of government we are practising has failed us. We must get rid of the National and State Assemblies because maintaining each member cost the country billions of naira. Some of the standing committees at both assemblies are not useful to the country, they are only representing themselves, not the populace."

 

Okotie described the National Assembly as wasteful, saying the funds budgeted for it could be better spent.

 

“For the best of the country, both assemblies should be scrapped and the money for maintaining them should be used for something else. What we have in Nigeria today is the government of the party, by the party and for the party,” he said.

Advocating that the position of minister and commissioner should be scrapped, the cleric said, “Ministers and the Commissioners should also be expunged because Nigeria’s democracy has been hijacked by the elite for their interest and they are deceiving the downtrodden who don’t know anything.

“And the most important of all is our constitution. It should be changed to a people-oriented constitution, not the military one we have now. After the change, we can then restructure the country for the better.”

 

He described Nigeria as running a confusing system of government, saying, “First, we emulated the British and now we are copying the American style of democracy that didn’t take us anywhere.

 

“The presidential system of government has failed us woefully. We should enable professional associations constitutionally to acquire legislative power as a replacement for the removal of the legislature from our political system.

 

“And we should also embrace the concept of aboriginal democracy, that is a government from the people, for the people and with the people. This is distinct from the current experience of political parties which is the government of the party, the party and for the party.

 

“My government will be that of National Reconciliation and Reconstruction. The interim government shall address aberrations and anomalies in the polity. I want to implore all Nigerians to join hands in the conversations that would enable a transition to an interim government at the end of President Buhari’s administration."

 

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from ending voter registration on June 30, 2022.

 

The presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon on Monday granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion ex parte by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had early this month filed the lawsuit against INEC asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights.”

 

In the suit, SERAP had asked the court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the 30th June 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

 

The suit is adjourned to June 29, 2022, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

 

The suit followed the decision by INEC to extend the deadline for the conduct of primaries by political parties by six days, from June 3 to June 9. But the commission failed to also extend the online pre-registration which ended May 30 2022 and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ending 30 June 2022.

 

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1034/2022 filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and transferred to Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether the failure of INEC to extend the deadline for voter registration is not a violation of Nigerian Constitution, 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, and international standards.”

 

SERAP is asking the court for “a declaration that the failure of INEC to extend the deadline for voter registration is a violation of eligible Nigerians’ rights to participate freely in their own government, equality and equal protection.

 

“An order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to extend voter registration by a minimum of three months and take effective measures to ensure that eligible Nigerians are able to register to exercise their right to vote in the 2023 general elections.”

 

 

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No fewer than 36 people were said to be abducted by suspected terrorists on Sunday in four communities in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Some residents of the communities confirmed this to SaharaReporters during a meeting with security agencies on Monday.

They alleged that the constant attacks have affected the socio-economic progress of the area, as they can no longer go to their farms for fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits. 
They begged the Nigerian Government to set up a military base in Kajuru to end insecurity in the area. 
A resident was quoted as saying, “When they (terrorists) came, they met some people in the church; they decided to go into the church, packed some of them, gathered them in a particular place, and went to another village."

The resident said the gunmen stormed the communities on motorbikes and stole more motorcycles from villagers in order to take more people away. He said they killed some of the villagers who tried to avert the attack and injured others.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, Monday, directed security chiefs to Kufana District to get first-hand information on the attack and engage with the locals on how best to tackle the security challenges in the general area.
Others present at the meeting include the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, other heads of security agencies in the state, community leaders, and the chairman of the Kajuru Local Government Area.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that 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.

 

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A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has said that President Muhammadu Buhari's administration is bankrupt of ideas and solutions to some of the challenges facing Nigeria.

 

The former lawmaker, who quoted the UN Refugee Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), pointed out that about 3.2 million Nigerians have been displaced.

Sani who made this known in a post on his Twitter handle on Monday noted that many Nigerians are now in the Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon as refugees.

 

He noted that solving the problem should be a priority for the next president of Nigeria.

 

He wrote, "According to the @unhcrnigeria, about 3.2 million Nigerians have been displaced. Factually, many of our citizens are now in Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroun.

 

"This should be a priority for the next president of Nigeria. The present Government is bankrupt of ideas and solutions."

 

According to the @unhcrnigeria ,about 3.2 million Nigerians have been displaced.Factually,many of our citizens are now in Niger Republic,Chad and Cameroun.This should be a priority for the next president of Nigeria.The present Government is bankrupt of ideas and solutions.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) June 20, 2022

The former lawmaker via his Twitter handle has previously alleged that there is a targeted attack on worship places by terrorists in some parts of Kaduna State.

 

He said although no part of Kaduna is spared from bandit and terrorist attacks, there seem to be targeted attacks on Chikun and Kajuru local government areas of the state.

 

“No part of Kaduna is spared from the criminal activities of bandits and terrorists. But it’s a proven fact that there is a systemic and targeted attacks (sic) on worshiping (sic) places in Chikun and Kajuru Local Governments,” he tweeted.

 

No part of Kaduna is spared from the Criminal activities of Bandits and terrorists;But it’s a proven fact that there is a systemic and targeted attacks on worshiping places in Chikun and Kajuru Local Governments.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) June 20, 2022

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The Justices of the Supreme Court have accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice lbrahim Tanko Muhammad of corruption.

 

Multiple sources told SaharaReporters that the Justices via a letter to Tanko complained that poor welfare had hindered their job.

They were also said to have accused him of diverting their housing, vehicles and electricity allowances into his personal pocket and pursuing his children’s political ambitions.

 

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that two sons of the Chief Justice of Nigeria emerged as the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party respectively in Bauchi State.

 

While Siraj Ibrahim Tanko emerged as the APC candidate for Bauchi North, his brother, Sani won the ticket of the PDP to represent Shira/Giade federal constituency in Bauchi State at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

 

“The Justices reiterated the fact that they are serving this country diligently and to the best of their ability and as such deserves the best compared to how they are being treated by the present CJN,” a top judicial officer told SaharaReporters.

 

“The Justices reminded the CJN of the facts that they resolve disputes between the Executive and the Legislature including all manner of disagreements, between governments and individuals and how it would be a tragedy if the Nigerian public were to know that they are unable to resolve their own problems internally without going public due to neglect and lack of taking to corrections by the CJN.

 

“The Justices demanded that the CJN act before it is too late as all efforts in the past to resolve their complaints have yielded no result. The Justices recall that the CJN reluctantly called a Justices’ meeting on the 23rd day of March 2022 after several persistent requests to hold the meeting.

 

“The Justices recalled that at their meeting of the 23rd day of March 2022 they tabled and discussed their demands on:

I. Justices accommodation,

II. vehicles,

III. Electricity tariff,

IV. Supply of diesel,

V. Internet services to justices’ residences and chambers,

VI. Epileptic electricity supply to the Court,

 

“They also raised the issue of the failure of the Honourable Chief Justice to carry the Justices along in managing the affairs of the Court as well as the deteriorating condition of services generally. They frowned on how the CJN reneged on the agreement that the welfare committee be constituted to compile and forward their demands which were submitted to the CJN for his review.

 

“The welfare Committee submitted their request for diesel allowance, because of the epileptic electricity supply, the astronomical hike in the price of diesel and the fact that Justices require electricity to work at home. The Committee also requested the restoration of their monthly Internet allowance, because they require uninterrupted Internet service in order to have access to materials online to write their judgments but the CJN ignored these demands since 24th March 2022. 

 

“The worse part of the CJN corruption is the fact that some Justices sworn in since the 6th day of November 2020 were yet to be accommodated by the Court as they lived in their rented apartments with the attendant risks attached to the same. With regard to Justice’s vehicles, several justices are due for vehicle replacement, while the new Justices have not received their full complement of vehicles to date. Moreover, some of the vehicles supplied to the Justices are either refurbished or substandard.”

 

The source added that the Justices also protested about how Tanko diverted their training allowances.

 

“Contrary to what used to be the norm in the past where Justices were nominated to attend two to three foreign workshops and training per annum with an accompanying person for reasons of old age but since the current CJN assumed office, only two workshops in Dubai and Zanzibar were organized and the Justices were not accorded the privilege of travelling with accompanying persons as it was the practice.

 

“However, the CJN continues to travel with his spouse, children and personal staff. The Justices demanded to know what has become of their training funds and whether the same has been diverted despite the fact that the National Assembly has increased the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary.

 

“The Justices also demanded provision of qualified legal assistants when lower Courts provide legal assistants for their Justices and Judges. They noted that the Supreme Court, apart from being the highest court in the land, is a policy court which is confronted with various complex legal issues of national significance with the addition of time-bound matters coming in between their regular court sittings and as such require the services of legal assistants.

 

“Of importance is the state of health care in the Supreme Court which has deteriorated; the Supreme Court clinic has become a mere consulting clinic. Drugs are not available to treat minor ailments. There is a general lack of concern for Justices who require immediate or emergency medical intervention. The justices also noted that the Rules of the Supreme Court are the immediate tools employed by Justices to dispense Justice to Court users but the CJN has kept the amended Rules of Court for almost three years now without appending his signature.”

 

The source also disclosed a recent notice from the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court via an internal memo to the Justices that electricity would be supplied to the court between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm daily, for lack of diesel “despite the increase of the budgetary allocation to the court without taking into cognizance of the implication of the memo which implies that the Justices must finish their work and close before 4pm irrespective of the increasing demands of appeals coming to the court.”

 

“The Justices were concerned that the Judiciary as an institution, which is gradually drifting to extinction. The Supreme Court of Nigeria, just like the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly, is the seat of the Judiciary as an arm of Government.

 

“They reminded the CJN that the choice is now his to address their complaints and swiftly take responsibility and address their burning issues or they will be compelled to down tools. The Justices were stunned to see that the CJN diverted their allowances into his children’s political ambition without care or fear of the anti-corruption agencies and they believe that this may be due to the fact that he is a northerner and a friend of the government in power who saw to his emergence from the back door.”

Supreme Court Gets N110 Billion Annually

SaharaReporters learnt that the apex court has been receiving at least N110 billion yearly since 2018.

 

Meanwhile, the Justices in a letter to Tanko and obtained SaharaReporters asked him to explain what has become of their training funds.

 

They also accused him of failing to carry them along in managing the affairs of the court.

 

The letter was signed by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice Musa Dattijo Mohammed, Justice Kudirat Motonmori O. Kekere-Ekun, Justice John Inyang Okoro, Justice Chima Nweze, Justice Amina Adamu Augie and Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji.

 

Others who signed the letter include Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, Justice Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumujimi, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, Justice Adamu Jauro, Justice Tijjani Abubakar and Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim.

 

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The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the traditional ruler of Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area in Plateau State, His Royal Highness, Aminu Derwan, by Islamic terrorists.

 

The command's spokesman, Alabo Alfred, told SaharaReporters on Monday that the police had deployed their assets to track down the hoodlums and rescue the traditional ruler.

It was gathered that over 20 Islamic terrorists masquerading as bandits stormed the monarch's palace and took him away after scaring residents with gunshots in the early hours of Monday.

 

One of the residents of the community, Moses Garuba, told The PUNCH that the hoodlums surrounded the district head’s palace in Panyam for several minutes, shooting sporadically before gaining entrance into the palace.

 

He said, “It was last night around midnight that the bandits, who were more than 20 and heavily armed, surrounded the district head’s palace in Panyam.

 

“Because his house was not fenced, some villagers who saw how his house was surrounded by strange people alerted other members of the community through a community bell. But immediately the bandits heard the bell, they started firing gunshots and eventually went away with the traditional ruler, leaving the community helpless.”

 

Some other residents also condemned the incessant attacks in the community which have been going on unabated.

 

They said the incident had been reported to the police division in the locality.

 

Confirming the abduction to SaharaReporters, the command's spokesman Alabo, said the state commissioner of police was on top of the situation.

 

He said, "Since last night, all our divisional police officers, Command Tactical Squad and Anti-kidnapping Squad, all of them are working to secure his release. Hopefully, we'll get a result soon."

 

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

The Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday stepped down the culpable homicide suit against Peter Nwachukwu over the alleged murder of his wife, Osinachi.

Osinachi, the singer of the famous gospel song, Ekwueme, died on April 8 after she was allegedly beaten and kicked in the chest by her husband, Peter Nwachukwu. Her husband has however claimed that his wife died of lung cancer.

The suit was stepped down by the judge in order for his lawyers to align themselves to represent him.

 

The Prosecution Counsel, Aderonke Imana, had informed the court, presided over by Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme on Monday when the matter came up that it was slated for hearing and that they were ready to proceed.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria's report said that A. Ogbonna also announced his appearance as watching brief of the nominal complainant.

 

It reported that the counsel that represented the defendant during his arraignment, Victor Abakpa, however, prayed the court to adjourn the matter until Tuesday, as another lawyer from a different chamber just informed that he was taking over the case.

 

He further stated that he was equally served additional proof of evidence in the court just before the court started the day’s proceedings.

 

I.A Aliyu on his part informed the court that he was briefed by the defendant on June 18 to take over the case.

 

The court, therefore, stepped down the case to 11 am in order for counsel to align themselves and come properly before it.

 

The family members of the deceased singer, Osinachi were in court, including her two children, mother and twin sister.

 

SaharaReporters had reported that absence of the trial Judge stalled the case on June 16.

 

The defendant was earlier arraigned on June 3, and was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to the alleged homicide charge filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

 

He was therefore remanded pending the hearing and determination of the 23 counts bordering on domestic violence and homicide instituted against him.

 

Nwachukwu was arrested by the Nigeria Police after his wife died on April 8 following widespread allegations by their children, family and colleagues that he battered her leading to her death.

 

According to the charge, the crime he allegedly committed contravenes Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015, Section 221 of the Penal Code and the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015.

 

The charge read in part: “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the April 8 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Osinachi N.

 

“This was caused by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your act.

 

“Particulars of offence: That you, Peter Nwachukwu, male, sometime between Nov. 14, 2009, and April 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to wit: emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu (deceased).

 

“This was caused by humiliating her and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members.”

 

The statement of offence bordered on 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.

 

The late gospel singer was popularly known for her song “Ekwueme”.

 

 

 

 

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Gunmen who stormed the Celestial Church of Christ, Oshofa, Wasimi, in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State last Monday and abducted two leaders of the church have released the victims.

 

The founder of the church, Oluwatomisin Olugbebi, who disclosed the news of their release on Sunday to PUNCH Metro said the victims were released on Saturday after the armed kidnappers collected rice, beans, cigarettes, gin and N1 million ransom.

It was earlier reported that gunmen in masks and fez caps invaded the church and abducted one of the church leaders known as the Assistant Shepherd (assistant pastor), Oluwaseun Ajose and a Sunday school teacher, Dagunro Ayobami.

 

According to the church founder, Olugbebi, kidnappers had on Thursday reduced their demand from N50m to N10m.

 

Then, on Saturday morning, they called and reduced the ransom demand to N1 million and also demanded foodstuffs including rice, beans, cigarettes and gin. The victims were then released after those items and the money were delivered to their abductors.

 

“They called on Saturday morning and demanded foodstuffs (rice, beans), cigarettes and gin. They said we should pay N1m for the two of them. I pleaded with them that we didn’t even have up to that, but they said they won’t accept anything less than a million.

 

“When we heard this, the family of the victims sat on how to get the money and they raised a total of N221,000. Thankfully, well-wishers and other church members balanced it up.

 

“They did not give a specific location where we should drop the money. They asked to speak to the sister of one of the victims and told her to come to a certain location. When she got there, she called them and they told her to give the phone to the bike rider.

 

“They told the bike rider their location without disclosing it to her. The bike rider then took her to the location where the money and the requested foodstuffs were dropped. After like 10 minutes, they asked her to come and pick them (victims) up at the bus stop,” Olugbebi said.

 

Also confirming the release of the abducted church leaders, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, said, “They regained their freedom last night (Saturday) due to sustained pressure mounted by the police on the kidnappers.”

 

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

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has dumped the opposition party.

He disclosed this on Monday, June 20, 2022.

This was stated in a letter addressed to the party's national chairman, Senator (Dr.) lyorchia Ayu, stating that he took the decision because the party is not ready to regain power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.

 

The letter reads: "I write to formally inform you of my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP). This has been communicated to the Chairman of Burutu Ward 3, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, effective 20th June 2022. Consequently, I am by this letter intimating you of my total withdrawal from all activities at the Ward, Local, State and National levels of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP).

 

"I am highly honoured and privileged to have been part of a political party that successfully transformed a pariah nation to one that commanded respect in the comity of nations. When we lost the Presidential election in 2015 in bewildered (sic) circumstances to say the least, it was my belief that the party would use the opposition period to re-strategize with the aim of taking back power at the earliest opportunity.

 

"However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023. Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard to (sic) the provisions of the party's constitution, the party, threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party's Presidential flagbearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the National Chairman, to be occupied by Northerners, contrary to section 7.3(c) of the party's constitution.

"I salute and commend the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike for his efforts and gallantry at the primaries. Posterity will be kind to him when the history of the party is written. There are lots to be said, but out of respect for the party. I leave some stories untold at this time.

 

"My belief in the sanctity of Nigeria is unshaken and I will continually work for her progress and development, even if it is through another route.

"I thank you sir and wish you all the best," the letter added.

Orubebe was appointed Nigerian Minister of Niger Delta Affairs on April 6, 2010, when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan announced his new cabinet.

On 31 March 2015, Orubebe, acting as a polling agent for the PDP, made attempts at disrupting the proceedings of the 2015 presidential election coalition. Orubebe alleged that the then INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, had taken sides with the main opposition political party at the time, APC.

He, however, later apologised to Nigerians over his conduct, urging them not to follow in his footsteps and explaining that he regretted his action.

 

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