₦airaland Forum

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Department of State Services have invited Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki over the crisis in the state House of Assembly.

Nine out of the 24 lawmakers, were inaugurated recently after electing principal officers, with the remaining 15 absent from the ceremony.

The 15 lawmakers in their separate petitions to the IG and DSS on June 20, accused the governor of sponsoring the police-backed thugs, who attacked them while having a meeting at a Benin hotel.

A top member of the APC in the state confirmed to our correspondent on Saturday that the police and the DSS invited Obaseki during the week but he could not make it.

It was learnt that the governor promised to report after returning to country from his trip abroad.

The source said, “The meeting is billed to hold tomorrow (Monday). It will be a joint meeting with the security agencies.”

Our correspondent learnt that the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, or a representative of the National Working Committee of the party might be invited to the meeting.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said he was not aware of Obaseki’s meeting with the IG and DSS.

However, the APC Vice-Chairman (South-South), Hillard Eta, told our correspondent that efforts were on to resolve the crisis in the Assembly.

Ita said, “I urge all members to give peace a chance in the interest of the state and democracy.”



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/ig-dss-invite-obaseki-assembly-crisis/

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the players are locked in talks over unpaid salaries, with both parties threatening to withdraw from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of their final group match.

No agreement has been reached, with ZIFA offering to pay $5,500 of the $12,500 the players are owed on Friday.

But it was rejected amid threat of a boycott of training, until the full amounts were settled.

Both parties then threatened to quit the tournament ahead of Sunday’s clash with struggling Democratic Republic of Congo, where a win would give Zimbabwe a good chance of progressing to the second round.

“We were called in and told of the developments about the possible withdrawal from the tournament and we told them (ZIFA officials) that we were ready to go home because we believe they haven’t fulfilled our contracts,” Zimbabwe’s Herald newspaper quoted an unnamed player as saying.

The players were at loggerheads with ZIFA before the team left for Egypt and had threatened to boycott their opener against the host nation on June 21.


Read more here https://thickmatch.com/afcon-2019-players-threaten-leave-egypt-match-bonuses/

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The Electoral Institute, Abuja on Friday said it would use the Kogi and Bayelsa States Governorship elections to correct all the wrongs from the lessons learnt during the 2019 general elections.

Dr Saád Idris, Director-General of the institute said this at a Policy Dialogue series tagged, “Dynamics of Delegation: Reforms in the Recruitment, Training and Deployment of Ad-hoc Election Personnel“ in Abuja.

Idris said that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been engaging with stakeholders since the 2019 general elections, to know what went wrong to improve on subsequent elections.

“Today we drew stakeholders from the academia, civil society among others to this meeting meant to interrogate the electoral process, going forward to know what we did not do right.

“The chairman has been making effort to address the challenges faced, so this is a part of that effort to look into the recruitment, training and deployment of ad-hoc staff during elections.

“The effort of the commission is clear, it has owned up to some things that it did not do right, so beginning from the Kogi and Bayelsa elections, you will see improvement.’’

Idris said that the plans to correct the electoral process had started, adding that “we are not going to wait for general elections before correcting all the wrongs.’’

Idris explained that the meeting was part of the mandate to organise a policy dialogue, to engage in dialogue for reforms, recruitment, training and deployment of ad-hoc staff.

He also said that the dialogue was with particular reference to what happened in 2019 elections.

Earlier, Prof. Shola Omotola, Lead Speaker and lecturer, Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State called for expansion of the recruitment data base of adhoc staff to include ex-NYSC members, to guarantee continuity.

Omotola, therefore, called for training and re-training of ad-hoc staff and the need to put mechanisms in place to enable such staff to also vote on Election Day, in order not to disenfranchise them.

He advised INEC to imbibe the culture of timely recruitment and training of ad-hoc staff to enable them work effectively.

Omotola also said that there was need to guarantee their security as well as increase their remunerations for greater performance.



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/well-use-bayelsa-kogi-guber-polls-correct-mistakes-2019-general-elections-electoral-institute/

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The last is yet to be heard over the war of words between the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha-led Imo State Government and that of the Chief Rochas Okorocha past administration in the State.

This time, Chief Uche Nwosu, Okorocha’s then Chief of Staff and Action Alliance, AA, guber candidate during the last election, has accused Ihedioha of sending thugs after his wife.

This was contained in a statement made available to Us, signed by Onwuasoanya Jones, Director, Media and Publicity, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu Campaign Organization on Friday.

The statement read, “Yesterday, some obviously hired and uncouth thugs invaded the business premises of the wife of His Excellency Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, along Port-Harcout Road, Owerri. These thugs assaulted and harassed the proprietress, customers and staff of the House of Freeda, an entertainment outfit owned by Her Excellency Mrs. Uloma Nwosu, wife of the AA governorship candidate in the last general elections.

“It is important to also inform the public that these thugs did not provide any search warrant, permitting them to search this privately owned investment of more than three years standing.

“They rudely interrupted business activities in the premises and forcefully made away with properties of the outfit worth several millions of Naira. For record purposes, some of the things looted from the House of Freeda are:

“Refrigerators, power generating set, vehicles, wristwatches, fabrics, shirts, frozen chicken parts, television sets, chairs, tables and other properties acquired and registered in the name of the company. Some of these properties have been owned by the House of Freeda for more than three years now, and there are papers to prove this.”

He demanded that “the Imo State Government should, within, forty-eight hours of this publication return all that it looted from the House of Freeda.

“That the Imo State Government should in not more than twelve hours, after this publication, declare and display before the public, items looted from the House of Freeda, and attach evidences proving that these items were or are properties of the Imo State Government.

“That the Imo State Government should, within 72 hours of this press statement, tender an unreserved apology to Her Excellency Mrs. Uloma Nwosu, all staff of her establishment, customers and His Excellency, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.

“That Governor Emeka Ihedioha should reprimand everyone involved in that thug action against the spouse of our governorship candidate.

“That the Imo State Government through its media team, should sponsor advertorials on television, newspapers, radio and the social media, dispelling the erroneous narrative they had sponsored against Her Excellency Mrs. Uloma Nwosu and her establishment.

“That the Imo State governor, His Excellency Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, must commit by himself to offset hospital bills of all those injured during this invasion.”


Read more here https://thickmatch.com/imo-government-ihedioha-sent-thugs-wife-uche-nwosu-alleges/

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Access to Justice (A2Justice) on Friday has described as worrisome the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment on new Supreme Court justices.

Joseph Otteh, the Convener, in a statement, recalled how Buhari asked the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to initiate the process of appointing five new justices of the Supreme Court.

A2Justice said the process, which saw the CJN accepted the request by asking Supreme Court Justices to nominate “suitable candidates for consideration for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria”, was mockery of the judiciary

It said: “The Supreme Court has not had a full bench of 21 Justices since the transition to civil rule in 1999 in spite of calls for it to do so. Why does it have to be a Presidential “request” that should trigger the Judiciary into filling longstanding vacancies at the Supreme Court? There are notable concerns flowing from the Judiciary’s response to the Presidency’s request.

“First, the Judiciary gives the impression, inferably, that it has no mind of its own, and cannot control its own business or judge what is in its own best interest. Nigeria’s judicial branch is created as an independent arm of government, with powers and responsibility over the affairs of the Judiciary.
“The Constitution and the Nigerian people expect the Judiciary to exercise full autonomy over matters relating to the appointment, discipline and removal of judges without interference from other branches of government, just as the Judiciary does not interfere in appointments made by other arms of government.

“The Judiciary has not told the Presidency when, for example, to appoint cabinet Ministers since May 29, 2019 when this administration began another term. The Judiciary ought to march to the beat of its own drum not another’s. The move to fill-up all vacant Supreme Court positions, following from the President’s advice or direction, unfortunately casts the Judiciary as an institution that lacks real substance in the concept of its independence; as a lackey arm, sub-ordinate to the direction of the executive branch.

“Given the Presidency’s role in the sobering events leading to the removal of the past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen (rtd) and the instatement of a new (acting) one, the Nigerian Judiciary ought to maintain considerable distance from other branches of government, as part of its efforts at rebuilding its public image that has, for a long while now, remained below par.

“It has not done so in this case but is, rather, further hurting its public perception and sending an invidious, counter-productive message to Nigerian judges nationwide that the Judiciary should take cognizance of the body language of the executive, and hearken to its requests, wishes and demands.

“Secondly, even in initiating the process for appointments to the Supreme Court, the (acting) Chief Justice is also not adhering to the terms of the Extant Revised NJC Guidelines & Procedural Rules For The Appointment of Judicial Officers of All Superior Courts of Record in Nigeriamade on 3rd Nov. 2014 made by the National Judicial Council, of which he is Chairman.

“The Rules require, with respect to appointment of Justices to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, that the President of the Court of Appeal/Chief Justice of Nigeria write“to Heads of Courts, serving Justices of Court of Appeal/Supreme Court of Nigeria and President of the Nigerian Bar Association asking for nomination of suitable Judicial Officers/Legal Practitioners for appointment as Justice of Court of Appeal/Supreme Court of Nigeria”.

“The Rules show that nominations for Supreme Court positions must come from a broad spectrum of officials and persons, and not from the Supreme Court Justices alone. The Guidelines show that even academics can be considered, and not only serving Judges/Justices or practicing lawyers. The acting Chief Judge’s stipulated eligibility criteria would effectively exclude academics from being considered for appointment to the Supreme Court in violation of the existing Judicial Appointment Guidelines.

“Finally, Access to Justice urges the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria to re-consider the exigencies of appointing new Supreme Court Justices at this time. While the Supreme Court will do with additional Justices, the circumstances and context within which any appointment will take place now are not expedient for the Judiciary’s integrity.

“Many Nigerians (and members of the international community) will see any appointments to the Supreme Court at this time, coming at the behest of the Presidency, as an extension of the government’s ploy to exercise political control of the court, and influence the outcomes of election petitions that come before it.


Read more here https://thickmatch.com/buhari-cjn-fire-appointment-new-supreme-court-justices/

xGovernor David Umahi has dissociated himself from the purported inauguration of a campaign platform known as ‘Southeast for President 2023’.

He described the inauguration of the group on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the state capital as a distraction.

Umahi in a statement by his chief press secretary, Emmanuel Uzor dissociated himself and his Government from any form of political gathering with intent to promote him for President in 2023.



He said he is more committed to delivering quality and purposeful leadership to the people of Ebonyi State.

Uzor said that promoters of his purported 2023 Presidential ambition did not have his support and therefore should not link him with any election that is four years ahead.

“The Governor was greatly embarrassed by the link to Presidential ambition of 2023 being circulated in various social media platforms and wishes to state that he will not be distracted by the various endorsements by groups and individuals who clamour for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction”, Mr Uzor said.

“Governor Umahi does not know the promoters of the platform and could not have contracted them to do the job but believes that any genuine and law abiding Nigerians reserve the right to go about their business as long as it doesn’t not impinge on laid down rules of the country “

The statement further quoted the governor as having dismissed the insinuation of his Presidential ambition.

“2023 is still very far ahead of us. I am the Governor of Ebonyi State and a second term Governor for that matter by the grace of God, I put all my energy and concentration to serve my people as Governor and deliver on my Campaign promises. I am not looking at where I will be tomorrow. Allow God to determine my next political fate but don’t distract me with Presidential ambition of 2023 now in 2019, its ridiculous”

“Let me say again, as a Nigerian and Igbo man and in my capacity as the Chairman of South East Governors Forum, I am not against the idea or agitation for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction but linking me to it at this time is mostly embarrassing, distracting and premature and I beg to be left out of it,” Umahi said.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/umahi-dissociates-self-2023-presidential-ambition/

IBADAN – THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday, revealed that Oyo State has the highest number of cybercrimes and corruption related cases out of the six states in the South West.

This was disclosed by the zonal Head of the commission, Mr. Friday Ebelo when speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The statistics, he noted, was based on the last six months since the baton of leadership changed in the zone.

Most of the suspects, who perpetrate cybercrimes and other fraudulent acts, he noted, are between the ages of 18 and 40.

Ebelo said: “If you are looking for the number of convictions, Oyo State should be seen as the highest. We are based in Ibadan and since I resumed here, the tempo of our activities has increased.

“These suspects of cybercrimes and fraud related cases operate from Lagos and share their loots in Ibadan. But now, most of them are leaving Ibadan for the adjoining states.”

While giving further breakdown of the statistics, the EFCC official said: “This year, the zone received a total of 481 petitions. We were able to secure 83 convictions out of the 107 cases filed at different courts within the zone. That represents 83 per cent of the total number of cases filed.”

“From January to June 21, 2019, an aggregate sum of N116.9 million has been recovered. Others, which are in foreign currencies, include $39,129, £1,800 and £50,” he said.

He added that 65 vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

Ebelo explained that in some cases, criminals, who act as agents of the commission, use its name to seal up properties saying this is a scam as the commission does not work with any agents.

He appealed to parents to be more vigilant and pay constant visits to their wards in schools.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2019/06/oyo-highest-in-fraud-cybercrime-convictions-in-swest-efcc/%3famp

In a bid to increase access to quality education, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has announced the total abolition of all forms of fees and levies in public primary and secondary schools across the state.

Wike directed state-owned primary and secondary schools to stop collecting fees and levies from students and pupils with immediate effect.

He stated that henceforth, the State Government will be sending direct allocations to all primary and secondary schools management for their operations.

The Governor spoke on Monday during a meeting with the heads of primary and secondary schools, Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and State Universal Basic Education Board at the Government House Port Harcourt.

He said: “From today henceforth, no child either in primary and secondary schools should pay fees and levies in any school across the State.

“The monies you collect from these children are just used for your personal purposes. If I hear that any school head collects any fees or levies, be they examination, NECO or WAEC fees, that school head would be sanctioned.

“We shall not only dismiss the school head who collects fees or levies, we will prosecute the person involved.

“Government will work out grants that will be sent to the schools for their regular management and operations.”

Wike directed the State Ministry of Education, the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and the State Universal Basic Education Board to monitor all public schools across the state to ensure compliance.

The Governor stated that the administration funds the salaries, allowances, examinations and equipment of all public schools. He assured parents that his administration will remain committed to the provision of quality education, which is accessible to the less privileged.

“I have abolished all fees and levies and it will never happen again in our public primary and Secondary schools. Nobody should collect fees and levies from the children of the less privileged,” he said.




see more here https://thickmatch.com/gov-wike-declares-free-primary-secondary-education-rivers/

The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated the Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Buhari had in 2015 dismissed Peter Obi as Chairman of SEC after his appointment by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The investiture which was conducted by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, in Abuja will have Mr. Olufemi Lijadu as Chairman of the Board of the Commission.

Olufemi Lijadu, who hails from Ogun state, is a leading commercial lawyer with over thirty years’ experience.

Part-time members of the Board are: Mr. Olufemi Dominic Lijadu (Chairman), Mr Okokon Ekanem Udo (Representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance), Mrs Angela Adewumi Sere-Ejembi (Representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria), Mrs Faruk Ladi Rekiya (part-time Commissioner), Mr Lamido Abubakar Yuguda (part-time Commissioner).

Full-time members are: Ms Mary Joseph Uduk – Acting Director-General, Mr Isyaku Bala Tilde – Ag. Executive Commissioner (Operations), Mr Reginald Karawusa – Ag. Executive Commissioner (Legal and Enforcement), Mr Henry Adekunle Rowlands – Ag. Executive Commissioner (Corporate Service).



See more here https://thickmatch.com/fg-inaugurates-sec-board-full-list-members/

Counselor Lutterodt, the controversial Ghanaian Pastor has stated that married men must date single ladies to teach them about marriage.

According the relationship coach, dating is not a relationship and flirting is not cheating. Speaking on Men’s Lounge’ with Nana Yaw Odame on the topic “Married Men And Cheating A Perception Or Reality”, Counselor Lutterodt who stated that married men must date single ladies to teach them about marriage, added that it’s far better for a woman to date a married man than someone who is not married.
“Married men must date single ladies to teach them about marriage and married women must date young guys to teach them marriage,” he said.




Watch video here https://thickmatch.com/married-men-must-date-single-ladies-teach-marriage-lutterodt/

The member representing Nguru II at the Yobe State House of Assembly, Ahmed Lawan Mirwa, has been elected as Speaker of the 7th assembly.

The emergence of the new speaker followed the inauguration of 7th Assembly at the House Chamber.

Other elected principal officers of the Assembly include: Mohammed Isah Bello (Mamudo Constituency) who is now the Deputy Speakers of the Assembly; Bukar Mustapha (Gaidam North Constituency) – Majority Leader; Buba Ibrahim Kalallawa (Damaturu II Constituency) has been elected as Chief Whip; while Hassan Mohammed (Yusufari Constituency) is now the Deputy Chief Whip.




See more pictures here https://thickmatch.com/yobe-assembly-elects-speaker-principal-officerspictures/

The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it has commenced a clinical follow-up and rehabilitation for victims of the Ita-Faaji building collapse in central Lagos.

Dr Titilayo Goncalves, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, said the follow-up was to ensure that victims of the unfortunate incident recovered fully.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a three-storey building with a penthouse collapsed on March 13 at Ita-Faaji area of Lagos, leaving 20 people, majorly school children dead, and many others injured. One of the floors of the building housed a nursery and primary school.

Goncalves said: “What happened is quite unfortunate, and we do not pray for a recurrence.

“But moving on, the government being responsible and responsive, is concerned about the health and wellbeing of the citizens.

“As such, the government is providing this clinical follow-up and rehabilitation session to ensure good health for victims of this incident and help them recuperate.

“The follow-up includes a mental health treatment for those who may have been traumatised by the incident.

“Mental health talk and support is being offered by our trained psychiatrists, grief counsellors and social workers.

“This is because some of them, after such a traumatic incident, require mental health support to help them overcome their grief,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Funmilayo Shokunbi, the Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programmes in the ministry, said foodstuffs, school kits and other items would be provided to the victims to aid their process of recovery.

Shokunbi said the items were donated by the state government, Oba of Lagos and other well-meaning individuals.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/lagos-building-collapse-government-takes-new-action/

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said the alleged fear of insecurity and intimidation of judges raised by the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, vindicates PDP’s position that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is using devious means to obstruct justice from coming out from the nation’s courts.

The umbrella body of lawyers in the country through their president, Paul Usoro SAN, in a speech on Thursday and which was unanimously adopted by the National Executive Committee of the Association, alerted the nation that ” the level of insecurity in the country and the attack on the independence of the Judiciary and the legal profession constituted a threat to the rule of law and by extension the country’s democracy”.

The NBA boss said that the climate of fear instilled by the Federal Government undermined the independence of the judiciary and the ability of judges to act confidently without fear or favour in dispensing justice as they are purportedly threatened, intimidated and blackmailed by mostly the executive arm of government and their agencies at the federal and state levels.

Secondus, who reacted in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Ike Abonyi, said the “PDP has continuously raised alarm at the gradual erosion of the doctrines of Separation of power by the APC administration as the nation watch helplessly as the executive continues to muzzle the other arms of government including even the press”.

He added that the opposition has remained resolute in crying out loud against harassment of those with opposing views because it clearly envisages the danger of concentration of power in one hand especially with ‘a leader who has no history of appreciating and respecting democratic tenets and principles’.

The National Chairman however expressed hope that even in the face of harassment and intimidation, the Nigerian judiciary knowing their critical position in the sustenance of democracy in the land and being citizens who are resident in the country, know that the judiciary is the last hope of ordinary people and that no nation grows on injustice.

Meanwhile, Secondus has condoled with the people of Kom Kom in Oyigbo local Government Area of Rivers state who lost their lives at the gas pipeline explosion that killed dozens of citizens when Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, were carrying out routine maintenance of the facility in the area.

“Our hearts are with you at this trying times,” Prince Secondus said while lamenting the incessant hazard of the people of the Niger Delta due to the neglect and insensitivity of the federal government to listen to the cries of the people.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/pdp-reacts-nbas-alarm-judges-intimidation-buhari-govt/

Govenor Babagan Umara Zulum of Borno State on Sunday suspended three medical doctors found to be absent on duty at the General Hospital in Biu local government area.

Another doctor was also suspended for trying to cover for the absentee doctors.

The Governor handed down the suspension during an unscheduled visit to the General Hospital to obtain first-hand knowledge of their operations as part of his tour of all local government areas in the state.

“I have earlier stated that my administration will not condone the culture of absenteeism, indolence, indiscipline and nepotism in the public service.

“We are working for the people, not the people working for us, we must value their time and respect their resources therefore lack of punctuality will not be accepted,” the governor warned.

He declared that prudent management of public funds, transparency and accountability will be the guiding principles of his administration.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/gov-zulum-suspends-four-borno-medical-doctors-absenteeism-lying/

The Indomitable Lions seem to have settled their differences with the authorities and have departed their Yaounde hotel for the airport


After long hours of negotiations that eventually included emissaries from the Presidency, the Cameroon players and the sports ministry reached a deal over a bonus row that could have jeopardised the defending champions’ participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt.

Details of the deal were not revealed to the press but state television CRTV showed footage of the players, all smiles and rolling their luggage out of their Mont Febe hotel in Yaoundé and later boarding the team’s official bus for the airport, with fans applauding on the side of the road.

A Goal source at the FA (Fecafoot) confirmed that the team will leave for Egypt at 14H00 (13H00 GMT) on Friday. If they didn't arrive in Cairo on time, the defending champions could've been disqualified from participating at the Afcon.

Cameroon are the only team yet to arrive in Egypt and the tournament starts later at night, with the hosts taking on Zimbabwe.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/cameroon-players-resolve-bonus-row-agree-fly-egypt/

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This is the N850million newly built 2 blocks of classrooms with furniture and VIP toilets in College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies Ilorin Kwara State

It is the Constituency Project of the former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

See more pictures here https://thickmatch.com/see-n850milion-constituency-project-bukola-saraki/