A media organization, Signature TV has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe some staff of the National Examination Council (NECO) for engaging in examination scandals at a centre in Kaduna State. The call was made by the Chief Executive Officer of Signature TV, Mr. Vinmartin Obiora Ilo, during the unveiling of Corruption Tori Season Two in Abuja, recently. Mr. Ilo in his remark at the event explained that in one of its investigative reportage, it uncovered how some NECO officials colluded with prospective candidates to undermine the integrity of their examination. According…
Author: Francis Francis
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Salmanu Abdullahi Hashim before Justice Bello Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court on one count charge of misappropriation of funds. The defendant allegedly misappropriated the sum of N20, 000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) only, which he obtained from the complainant under the guise of using the money to purchase gold for the complainant but diverted the fund to his personal use. The charge read that, “you Salmanu Abdullahi Hashim on or about 2nd December, 2020 at Gusau within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N20, 000,000 (Twenty…
President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday expressed a renewed commitment to the space sector, describing it as the foundation of cyber security and a vibrant digital economy. The President, who spoke at a meeting with members of the National Space Council of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) at the State House in Abuja said: “Today therefore, marks another milestone in our resolve to effectively utilize Space Science and Technology in tackling some of our critical challenges. “No doubt Space is providing a new frontier for human development. As a stimulus for increased technological advancement and economic innovation, outer space…
President Muhammadu Buhari will today, depart Abuja for London, the United Kingdom for a scheduled medical follow-up. This development was contained in a statement by Femi Adesina. “He is due back in the country during the second week of July 2021,” the Adesina said.
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday commended the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) on their recent affirmation of belief in a United Nigeria and supporting the fight against insecurity by developing internal control mechanisms. The President gave the commendation while receiving the National Executive of INC led by Professor Benjamin Okaba. He implored the leadership of the association to use its influence ‘‘in making sure that we keep working together to keep this country a united, indivisible entity, so that we can tackle our problems together and overcome our challenges together.’’ The President also used the occasion to address some…
Participants in the opening ceremony of the African Development Bank Group’s annual meetings on Wednesday issued forceful calls for action to secure access to Covid-19 vaccines and tackle mounting debt – two challenges that stand in the way of Africa’s recovery from the pandemic. Covid-19 provided a pressing backdrop to the meetings, which were held virtually for the second consecutive year. Noting the meetings’ theme, Ghanaian president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said: “Today’s annual meetings have an appropriate focus, ‘building resilient economies in post Covid-19 Africa’, which is an unavoidable imperative if our continent is to recover from the effects…
The novel, rapid, and precise test to aid in quickly diagnosing COVID-19 infections, increasing the availability of testing, enabling high throughput in testing centers, and empowering healthcare professionals and citizens to take informed action immediately Pattern Computer Inc (PCI) has developed a novel test for near real-time (15 sec) diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections. In contrast with widely used antibody and PCR tests, which take at least 15 minutes to produce results, and require scarce reagents to process, the newly developed PCI method enables high-volume throughput of tests without requiring chemical reagents at difficult to service locations, such as company entrances,…
…says FG will copy our ideas when we are through …charges LG bosses to strengthen intelligence gathering in communities …‘Security, economy infrastructure devt, others must be top priorities’ Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration is busy working on the security architecture of the state to ensure a holistic solution to insecurity challenges being faced by the state. Makinde, who stated this while declaring close a two-day retreat for Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLAs), in the 33 Local Government Councils of the state, held at the Ilaji Hotel and…
The Senate has protested a media report by Channels Television alleging that its leadership approved the sum of N37 billion naira for the renovation of the National Assembly. Leading the protest, the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, while relying on order 14 and 15 of the Senate Standing Rules, declared the report as contemptuous and a breach of his privileges and that of members of the upper chamber. The lawmaker lamented that the “falsehoods contained in the report by the television station was intended to denigrate the image of the National Assembly and incite Nigerians against lawmakers on the…
The Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has advised African governments to prioritize the recovery of assets at domestic, regional and global levels, including the return of artworks and artifacts. Owasanoye gave this counsel on Tuesday during a virtual Commonwealth regional conference for anti-corruption agencies in Africa. Presenting a paper titled “Understanding the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR)”, the ICPC boss noted that the prioritization of recovery of assets at the domestic, regional and global levels had become necessary to facilitate the recovery of African assets. “In Nigeria, precisely…
In what has formed a public debacle and eliciting mixed reactions, a former BBNaija housemate, Praise has claimed that Ka3na begged him to deny that they had sex while in the house. According to gistmania, Praise, who accused Ka3na of chasing clout for saying he lasted five seconds in bed, also denied that he was trying to have a relationship with Lucy. Praise further explained that he lied about the sex because he had a relationship at the time of the incident. He said “It’s good to chase clout with your 15 minutes. When I came out of the house,…
A middle-aged man, Iladion Emmanuel, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over alleged forgery of travel documents and other ancillary offences. The Commission, in a 5-count charge brought before Honourable Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 26, sitting in Nyanya, Abuja told the court how the accused person conspired with one Mrs. Obikwelu Emmanuela Odinaka, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is now deceased, to dishonestly obtain an official passport number F00035510 from the Nigeria Immigration Service. Iladion Emmanuel is said to have…
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated National Steering Committee (NSC) of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, reiterating his commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years, with a well-researched framework for implementation and funding. Speaking at the ceremony attended by the Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, some governors and top government officials, President Buhari noted that the NPRGS had already proposed the establishment of a private equity fund, the Nigeria Investment and Growth Fund (NIG-Fund), to lead resource…
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday pledged to bequeath ”a citizens-led policing system” to the nation, declaring that his administration has demonstrated firm commitment towards changing the principle and strategy of policing in Nigeria. The President addressed the passing out parade of 418 officers of the 3rd Regular Cadet Course at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil-Kano, where he further explained his directive to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on the upward review of police emoluments. In his speech delivered by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, the President said a citizens-led policing system informed the approval for the adoption of…
The ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja in a landmark ruling today “restrained the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and its agents from unlawfully imposing sanctions or doing anything whatsoever to harass, intimidate, arrest or prosecute Twitter and/or any other social media service provider(s), media houses, radio and television broadcast stations, the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians who are Twitter users, pending the hearing and determination of this suit.” The ruling followed the suit filed against the government by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians arguing that “the unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, criminalization of Nigerians…
African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina has again urged regional leaders to focus on vaccine production and access for the African continent as the Covid-19 epidemic continues to take lives and hurt economies and livelihoods. Adesina addressed leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at a special summit held on Saturday, just days before the Bank Group’s 2021 Annual meetings, scheduled for 23-25 June. “Africa needs solutions to help it navigate through the very challenging times posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Adesina said. “But the rebound will depend on access to vaccines.” The African…
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Anchor Borrowers Programme and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative are revolutionizing agriculture in Nigeria. The Minister made the remarks in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, when he led a Federal Government delegation on an inspection of Malam Alu Agro Allied Company Limited, which also hosts the tallest national flag pole in Nigeria and the second in Africa at 50 metres high. He said the Anchor Borrowers Programme, which was launched by the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, in 2015 to boost the nation’s agricultural sector!, has now…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the development of a National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework. The soon-to-be-launched framework is geared towards making humanitarian interventions in Nigeria timely, effective and coordinated between government, humanitarian and security agencies. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq said during a virtual briefing to United Nations Member States on the Humanitarian Situation in Nigeria on Monday, that the National Humanitarian Coordination Technical Working Group, as directed by the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee (NHCC) came up with the initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in Nigeria. “The framework is a…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the election of Iran’s new president Ebrahim Raisi “once again reinforces the centrality of the will of the people to the success of democracy anywhere in the world,” adding that “our nations will work towards closer cooperation” In a reaction to the outcome of the election in Abuja on Monday, President Buhari said that “Raisi deserves his victory in the presidential election.” The Nigerian leader explained that “democracy affords voters the opportunity to change or re-elect their representatives by peaceful means.” He described Raisi as “a consummate politician with experience to lead his country to…
Popular Nigerian singer and songwriter, Timaya has been urged by his first baby mama to get married because he is getting old. Gistmania reports that Barbara, a Real Estate developer, made the remark while celebrating the renowned 32-year-old singer who is the father of her child as well as the father of three other children, born to different mothers. While praying for finances and wisdom in his life on Father’s day, she doubled it with a piece of advice as she urged him to get married since he’s no longer getting any younger. She wrote: “Happy Father’s day papa Ema,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said its victory in Saturday’s Kaduna bye-election “despite the bragging, intimidation and rigging machinations of the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led APC administration, is a further signal that the people of Kaduna state have since rejected Governor El-Rufai and his APC”. In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said “its clean victory in Kaduna, particularly in the political melting point like Sabon Gari Constituency, is a foretaste of the crushing defeat that awaits the APC in Kaduna and other states of the federation in the 2023 general elections”. “The PDP’s resounding…
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has added its voice to that of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) concerning the situation of hajj this year 2021. MURIC’s interface was contained in a statement on Monday by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. The statement reads: “It will be recalled that the government of Saudi Arabia last week restricted all foreign countries from bringing their pilgrims to perform hajj this year 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NAHCON immediately issued a statement on the restriction to keep Nigerians who had intended to partake in the holy exercise informed. “Although NAHCON’s statement was self-explanatory,…
A Nigerian lady identified as Nancy Ebi has bared her mind on the evergreen issue of sex before marriage. In a post on Facebook, she averred that no matter how rich her would-be husband is, they must have sex for her to be sure that he can perform in bed before going for the dotted lines of togetherness. She further noted that she cannot afford to date guys that are committed to Christianity because, in her opinion, such guys will not want to have sex before marriage. Nancy noted that such guys can make a lady to be turned on…
The Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Enforcement Gang has served Peace Estate in Gbagada and its environs abatement notices for structures illegally erected under high tension cables and on pipelines as the structures are in defiance of the State’s Physical Planning Law. During the exercise, not less than 50 structures were issued abatement notices with a directive to vacate the place before the commencement of their removal. A statement issued by the General Manager of LABSCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, said that if the illegal act is not checked on time, such developments would pose a huge threat to residents,…
530 inmates of Correctional Centres in Lagos State have so far taken advantage of the Plea Bargain protocol since it was introduced by the State Government in 2017. The State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, made the disclosure at the Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre in Lagos, when he led officials of the Ministry to a Plea and Sentence Bargain sensitisation session for Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATI). Onigbanjo said the initiative, which is aimed at decongesting correctional facilities in Lagos State, is in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s reform policy in the administration of criminal justice in…
The Federal Federal Government has appointed erstwhile Super Eagles skipper, John Mikel Obi as Youth Ambassador to inspire young Nigerian to strive for excellence. The event which took place at the NOC secretariat, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Friday is another of the Minister’s initiative geared towards driving a vibrant youth for national development. Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare described the former Chelsea legend as a role model whose lasting legacies in football development has continued to have positive impact on youths in the country. The Minister promised to support Mikel’s vision and…
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq is seeking more funding from the federal government to strengthen the various State Sexual Assault Referral Centres in the country. The Minister made the call during a Virtual Economic Council Meeting chaired by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Presenting the National Guide For the Establishment Of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Nigeria, the Minister noted that the weak commitment of State governments to strengthen the multi sectoral inter-agency collaboration has made it difficult for the SARC centers to meet the ever-growing demand from victims. To this end,…
The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that it will continue to collaborate with the Chinese government in the area of provision of critical infrastructure in the country. Speaking Friday in Abuja when he received in audience the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria His Excellency Cui Jianchun in his office, the Special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina said: “Nigeria has a high respect for China and what China is helping Nigeria to achieve particularly in the area of infrastructure. President Buhari came at a time of severe infrastructure deficit in the country and resolved to…
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said the state can be among the food baskets in the country if its potentials are fully harnessed. Governor Akeredolu spoke on Thursday during the commissioning of 18 units of SEM-919 Motor Grader for the use of the 18 Local Government Councils in the State. The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun; Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale; Special Adviser to Governor on Union Matters and Special…
Just when Nigerians are yet to get over the social media drama between Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo and her former best friend, Omo Brish, controversial Nigerian cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly called Bobrisky, has taken to social media to shade his former best friend, Tonto Dikeh. It would be recalled that Bobrisky and Tonto Dikeh were best friends until they went their separate ways over reasons best known to them and blocked each other on social media. Bobrisky, who seemed emotional in his recent post on Instagram, averred that there is no best friend anywhere advising his fans to be good…
