The new Democratic government in the United States led by President Joe Biden may have started to influence Nigeria and its citizens in some ways.
Nigeria may not be feeling the economic impacts of the new US government but obviously, the liberalism, which Democratic governments’ philosophy brings with it has began to manifest in the country in what many Africans may term negative.
The current development may be likened to the government of Barrack Obama when he (Obama) threatened to cut off foreign aids to Nigeria if the most populous black nation passed its anti-gay bill then.
That was when the then Senate grabbed the bull by the horn and passed a bill that strictly prohibits same-sex romantic liaisons in the country.
The bill raised furor among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender groups (LGBT), human rights organizations and western governments. Consequently, Obama issued a memo ordering American diplomats abroad to advance the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons.
He further announced that the fight against gay and lesbian discrimination would be a central point of his foreign policy.
But the Nigerian government was unwavering and the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, on January 7, 2014, signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill (SSMPA) into law.
The notional purpose of this law is to prohibit marriage between persons of the same sex. In reality, its scope is much wider.
The SSMPA forbids any cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners and bans any “public show of same sex amorous relationship.”
The SSMPA imposes a 10-year prison sentence on anyone who “registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organization” or “supports” the activities of such organizations. Punishments are severe, ranging from 10 to 14 years in prison.
The law effectively criminalizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
However, many Nigerians, especially those from the entertainment industry are coming out boldly as gay in recent days. This means that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari may not be interested in adding the fight against LGBT to that of corruption, insecurity and drowning economy.
Many Nigerians are now bold enough to come out as gay.
For instance, a few days ago, a video went viral where an up and coming Nigerian movie star and model, Godwin Maduagu was seen having an explicit gay sex with another Nigerian who did nothing to veil his face.
And barely 24 hours after Maduagu’s sex video went viral, another Nollywood actor, Uche Maduagwu came out publicly as gay.
Maduagwu made the declaration via his Instagram page on Thursday, asking his followers to learn to accept and respect other people’s choices.
Uche, known for attacking and making vile slurs about other actors and important personalities, shared a photo of himself with a caption, ”Proudly Gay.”
But before then, Bolu Okupe, son of former presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, had also announced his sexuality, declaring himself a homosexual.
But while he may be somewhere in the US, the likes of Uche Maduagwu and Godwin are here in Nigeria despite the country’s laws against the act.
Many more will come out in the near future while many others like the popular cross-dresser, Bobrisky, have directly or indirectly made their homosexual status known.
Many Nigerians are now of the view that the current Nigerian leadership may not be exactly interested in the existing legislation against LGBT practices considering the ideology of the current US government. Even though this may not exactly be the reason, government’s helplessness and inaction despite the current declaration by some Nigerians that they are gay has put many people in doubt as to the effective execution of the said legislation.
Dreaded armed members of Boko Haram sect in large guntrsucks and motorcycles currently invaded Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno state engaging Military troops as hundreds residents flee into Bush for safety.
This attack is coming barely 24 hours after handing over the baton to the Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru to his predecessor, General Yusuf Buratai (Rtd), which confirmed the purported video released by factional leader of the sect Abubakar Shekau that the New Service Chiefs cannot do anything good to end the over decade crisis.
Dikwa is in Borno Central, where its Shehu, His Royal Highness Dr. Abba Tor Masta II died last week after protracted illness.
The Late Shehu’s Palace was hitherto taken over and declared as Home Base to one of the Top Boko Haram Commander and his lieutenants some year back before Troops recover it after a fierce battle.
Sources and fleeing residents told our Correspondent on phone from Dikwa that the town is under series sporadic gunshots and explosions as they ran for their dear lives.
Dikwa is about 60km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital and a stone throw from Mafa Local Government Area where Governor Babagana Zulum hail from.
UNRELENTING PLOT TO WAGE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRESIDENT BUHARI
There is compelling reason to alert the nation of another orchestrated smear campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari, using some online newspapers and blogs.
The campaign, scheduled to be launched anytime soon through editorials and purported special investigative stories, is designed to further exacerbate tension in the land, by portraying the President as pandering to ethnic and other primordial tendencies, contrary to his pledge to belong to all Nigerians.
Impeccable security findings indicate that those behind the plot have procured online blogs and newspapers, which are to launch coordinated publications, alleging subjugation and suppression of a particular religion and ethnic groups.
A specific medium has so far contacted some opinion leaders, especially those very critical of President Buhari.
Part of the planned publication is to make unwary readers believe that the President has continually used the powers of his office to shield and protect an ethnic group against crimes of murder, kidnappings, rape and banditry in the southern, middle belt and some northern states.
The publication will also refer Nigerians to a 58-page document, which chronicles purported atrocities of the ethnic group in the South since 2017, all of which it claims the Presidency has turned blind eyes to.
Again, the hatchet job will allege that the President has continued to place members of his ethnic nationality in sensitive positions, so as to confer undue advantage on them. This allegation is by no means supported with reasonable facts and figures.
Just on Thursday, President Buhari, while meeting with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, restated his even-handedness on the issues of ethnicity and religion. Said the President:
“The Federal Government under my leadership does not, and will not, allow religious prejudice or partisanship to influence any of its decisions and policies. It is my solemn decision to be fair and just to all segments of society.”
Those who are bent on stoking ethnic and religious unrest in the country remain deaf to reason, and impervious to reality. They are hell-bent on distorting reality, and Nigerians are urged to be wary of them. It is all about quest for power, and filthy lucre.
Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) January 29, 2021
The Kano Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it arrested 43 suspected drug traffickers in January.
Dr Ibrahim Abdul, the NDLEA Commander in the state, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kano.
Abdul said the suspects were arrested in various locations in the state following intensive operations carried out by the officers of the command.
He explained that during their various operations, the command was able to intercept 581.702 kilograms of different exhibits across the state.
“During the month of January under review, we were able to intercept 533.553 kilograms of Cannabis sativa, 48.052 kilograms of Psychotropic and also 0.097 kilograms of Cocaine,” he said.
Abdul said within the period, the command secured the conviction of four suspects at the Federal High Court, Kano.
“During the period under review, 76 drug users were referred for brief intervention (counseling), four regular clients were admitted and two regular clients were discharged after undergoing counseling,” he said.
Abdul said the success was recorded due to the tireless efforts of the NDLEA officers and the support of various stakeholders.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as the Chairman of the agency, saying it has begun to yield a better result.
South Africa's military has changed its dress policy to allow Muslim women to wear hijabs with their uniforms.
It is a victory for Maj Fatima Isaacs, who led a three-year legal battle for her religious right to wear a headscarf beneath her military beret.
The change of heart comes after the military dropped charges against Maj Isaacs for wearing one.
She had faced dismissal for "wilful defiance and disobeying a lawful command" for refusing to remove it.
Maj Isaacs, who works as a clinical forensic pathologist at a military hospital, told the Cape Times it was a victory not only for her, but all people who were "silently victimised" because of their religion.
"We are living in a democratic country which means that there should be no discrimination with regards to religious beliefs. I believe religion is the foundation of a moral state/country. This is an important victory," she told the paper .
She also thanked the Legal Resource Centre (LRC), a rights group which took up her case in 2019.
After military charges were dropped last year, it was agreed that Maj Isaacs could wear a headscarf that was tight, did not cover her ears and which was plain in colour - though the dress code did not officially change.
So the LRC filed an application at the Equality Court, arguing that the religious dress code of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) was unconstitutional.
However, subsequent discussions had resulted in the defence force "amending its religious dress policy to allow Muslim women to wear their hijab with their military uniform", the LRC tweeted .
"We will therefore not be pursuing this matter further as the current SANDF policy no longer discriminates against Muslim women in the military."
After the end of white-minority rule in South Africa in 1994, the country drew up and adopted one of the most liberal constitutions in the world.
The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of nine Commissioners of Police to Assistant Inspector-General of Police. It also elevated nine Deputy CPs to CP and 20,356 officers who were promoted to their next ranks. This was contained in a statement on Thursday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, titled, ‘PSC promotes 20,356, nine CPs to AIG and nine DCPs to CP.’
The promotion was one of the decisions of the 11th plenary meeting of the commission held in Abuja on Wednesday, and presided over by its Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector- General of Police.
The new AIGs are: Aminu Pai, former Commissioner of Police Kwara and Bayelsa States Command, former Force Quarter Master General and currently the Executive Secretary, Police Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, Lagos; Dasuki Galadanchi, former Commissioner of Police/Executive Secretary, Police Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, Lagos and presently acting AIG, Force CID Annex, Lagos; Okon Ene, former Commissioner of Police Benue and Abia State Commands, CP SARS and currently CP Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Force Headquarters and Abang John, former Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State Command and presently Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command.
Others are Joseph Mukan, former CP, Airport Command, Lagos and currently CP Rivers State; Aji Ali Janga, former CP Kaduna and Kogi State Commands and currently CP Sokoto; Mukaddas Garba, presently CP Benue State Command; Habu Ahmadu, former CP, IGP Monitoring Unit; CP Intelligence, Force Headquarters and CP Bauchi State Command and presently CP Kano State and Imohimi D. Edgal, former Commissioner of Police Lagos and Akwa Ibom States Command.
The nine DCPs promoted to CPs are Abubakar Alhaji, presently DCP Operations, Rivers State; Benjami Okolo, currently at the National Defence College, Abuja; Abdul-Yari Shuyamu, presently DCP, Finance and Administration, Taraba State Command; Oyediran Oyeyemi, DCP State CIID Ebonyi; Samaila Dikko, DCP State CIID Adamawa and Jimwan Dazong DCP Zonal CIID, Zone 12 Bauchi. Others are Monday Kuryas, DCP Operations, Ondo State; Hussaini Rabiu, DCP, Operations Imo State and Rabi Umar, former Assistant Force Secretary and presently DCP, Force Education, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The commission also approved the promotion of three Chief Superintendents to Assistant Commissioner of Police, 1,5177 Deputy Superintendents to Superintendents of Police and 2,293 Assistant Superintendents to DSP.
It also approved the confirmation of 7,283 unconfirmed ASP II to ASPI, 9,072 Inspectors to ASPII and promoted 110 Inspectors to Senior Inspectors.
The three Chief Superintendents of Police promoted to ACP are Gotom Richard, Joseph Kaide and Giade Abubakar. “Chairman of the commission called on the newly promoted officers to see their new positions as a call to more commitment to duty,” the statement said.
EFCC operatives have swooped on Osogbo, the state of Osun capital again, arresting two brothers and six others for suspected cybercrime.
The suspects Akinrinmade Adepoju Sunday and his brother Akinrinmade Adeniyi were arrested Thirsday in their room and parlour apartment.
Others nabbed are Dennis Oluwamuyiwa, Oni Oluwaseyi, Adeyemo Adeyinka, Aborisade Abayomi, Goodluck Olatayo, and Gbolahan Sodiq.
They were arrested at their hideout in Ayegbami area of the city by operatives, working on intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.
Items recovered from the suspects include two cars, laptops and mobile phones.
EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwajuren said they will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The EFCC has now arrested 140 Yahoo Yahoo suspects in Osogbo since 2019.
In a related development, the Lagos Zonal office of the Commission has secured the conviction of four internet fraudsters.
The convicts are: Christopher Blessed Unimke, Raji Adeshola Quadri, Raji Ayoola Yusuf, and Adebowale Kehinde.
Christopher was arrested on August 21, 2020 by operatives following a raid at Plot 11/12 Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki, Lagos.
He was arraigned before Justice Sherifah Solebo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on January 21, 2021.
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge of possession of fraudulent documents contrary to Section 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Justice Solebo convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison with an option of fine of N50, 000.
The Court ordered that the items recovered from him, including one iPhone X and one Nokia Touch-Light phone be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Quadri, Yusuf and Kehinde, were arraigned before Justice O.O.A Fadipe of the Lagos State High Court, on January 25, 2021.
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charge of possessing documents containing false pretenses, which were used to perpetrate internet fraud.
Justice Fadipe, thereafter, convicted them accordingly.
He sentenced Kehinde and Quadri to one year in prison, while Yusuf was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Items recovered from them, which also included a Mercedes Benz 4matic car, iPhones, Android phones, gold pendant, cartier wrist watch and Apple laptop were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Eight Hundred and Two Nigerian nationals are expected to arrive the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from Thursday 28th and Friday 29th of January 2021 from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This was contained In a statement by the permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda and made Available to ait.live
Aduda said The Returnees will be conveyed via two Saudi Arabian Airlines.
He added that The first batch will arrive on the 28th of January at 11:50 am while the second will arrive 29th January at 10:35 am.
The returnees will be received on arrival by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Task Force on Covid19 and other relevant MDAs.
They will be quarantined at the FCT Hajj camp for a period of fourteen (14) days in line with established COVID-19 protocols. Thereafter, the Ministry will facilitate their movement to their respective destinations.
The evacuation comes after a video emerged on social media on the 22nd of January where some Nigerians were been detained over expired visas. In the video the Nigerians appealed to the Nigerian Government to be brought back home.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu to appear before it in relation to a contempt proceedings initiated against him.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a ruling, ordered the IGP to among others, appear before the court on February 4 this year to show cause why he should not be penalised for refusing to honour a subsisting judgment of the court.
“An order of this honourable court is hereby made mandating the Inspector General of Police to appear before this honourable court on the 4th day of February 2021 at 9am to show cause why a contempt proceedings should not be taken against the Inspector General of Police for refusal to obey the judgment of this honourable court in this matter, which judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeal,” the judge said.
Justice Ojukwu made the order in a ruling on January 16, 2021, a copy of which The Nation sighted on Wednesday. The judge gave the ruling following a Form 49 filed against the IGP by Patrick C. Okoli, in the suit marked: ABJ/CR/637/2009.
The judge equally ordered that the summons be promptly served on the IGP preparatory to the hearing scheduled for February 4, 2021.
Okoli stated, in an affidavit supporting the Form 49, that he was unlawfully and compulsory retired from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on June 16, 1992 pursuant to Decree No: 17 of 1984.
The applicant said he challenged the decision at the High Court of Bauchi State, which voided his retirement and ordered his reinstatement in a judgment given on February 9, 1994 in the suit marked: BA/48M/93.
Okoli added that, based on the judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Senate Committee on Police Affairs and the Head of Service of the Federation, wrote the IGP to comply with the judgment.
He stated that the Police Service Commission (PSC) also wrote the IGP on three occasions on the need to comply with the judgment.
The applicant added that, based on the IGP’s conduct, he again sued at the Federal High Court in Abuja in suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/637/2009 to compel the IGP to obey the pending judgment.
“The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered its judgment in favour of the applicant (Okoli) on October 21, 2011.
“The respondent (the IGP) appealed against the said judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, but the Court of Appeal, in its wisdom, struck out the appeal.
“Notwithstanding the striking out of the notice of appeal, the respondent maintained his position not to enforce the pending Federal High Court judgment,” he said.
Okoli added that the IGP has equally ignored further interventions by the PSC and the House of Representatives, a development that informed his decision to initiate the contempt proceedings.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has called on the Federal Government to help in funding the National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold in the state.
Obaseki said the state is ready to host the 20th edition of the sports event but does not have the financial capacity to host 11,500 athletes and officials.
Obaseki, who received members of the Main Organising Committee from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Benin City on Tuesday, said COVID-19 had taken its toll on the finances of the state.
He said: “Since March last year, you know the financial strength of most states, sub-nationals and countries. For us as a state, we are ready to host but don’t have the funds at this point in time to host the Games; this is the plain truth.
“If the Federal Government however in its wisdom decides to bring the funding for the Games, we will be too willing to host the country. We have to live with COVID-19 because it has come to stay; even with the vaccination, the virus will still be around. Canceling the Games is not the solution to this issue. We have to sit down and look at all these issues critically before reaching a final decision.”
Obaseki added, “Beyond the Games itself, which is an instrument of unity and a way of engaging the youths, there is the Tokyo Olympics to prepare for. But how do we prepare for the Olympics without Edo 2020? Can we afford to expose our young people to the dangers of COVID-19 or would there be other Olympics in the future? We have to balance these things.
“We have to make a decision whether we want to go to the Tokyo games. If we want to, how do we prepare Nigeria’s contingent, where are the trials?”
However, Nebeolisa Anako, who led the delegation to Obaseki’s office, expressed delight with the facilities inspected by the committee for the festival scheduled to hold from February 14 to 28.
“We are here to look at the preparedness of the state and determine how it would be hosted in a safe manner, considering the pandemic. What we saw while inspecting the facilities for the festival gladdens my heart. It shows that the state government is prepared to host the event. We are also looking at the funding for the Games.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered a final forfeiture of about N284, 306, 294.04 linked to a former governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, to the Federal Government.
The money was said to have been lodged with Zenith Bank Plc and Polaris Bank.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the FHC who gave the final forfeiture order said that Yari could not show how he made the huge sum of monies while or before serving as governor of the state (between May 29, 2011, and May 29, 2019).
Yari and two companies belonging to him (Kayatawa Nig. Ltd and B.T. Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd) were indicted for alleged fraud and were dragged to the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who had granted an interim order on those monies on August 16, 2019, told the respondents to exonerate themselves from the ICPC allegations.
The ICPC had accused the former governor of illicitly taking the money from the Zamfara State treasury to the detriment of his state.
The monies deposited at the two banks were $687,874.81 and about N24,289,522.89.
Yari’s lawyer, U. Kelechi, in his argument, claimed that he was rich before becoming the governor of the state.
His counsel also urged the court to set aside the interim order earlier filed against him.
Delivering her judgment, Ojukwu queried how one of Yari’s company’s bank accounts grew from zero to a humongous amount at the end of his tenure.
According to her, Yari cannot claim that the monies were his own without showing evidence.
While dismissing the allegation that it was a political witch-hunt, she ordered that the entire sum be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Ojukwu said, “There is nothing wrong in having a huge sum of monies in one’s account. But what the law requires is that such proceeds should emanate from legitimate sources or businesses; the respondents who have been given an opportunity to tell their story, have failed to provide evidence for such legitimate income.
“The respondents have not countered the case and facts presented by the applicants. The respondents having failed to establish the legitimate source of the monies as stated in this case, the honourable court hereby makes an order of final forfeiture of the following:
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of 12, 912, 848.68 naira being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $57, 056.75, being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Polaris Bank with account number…in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
“An order of forfeiture of the sum of N11, 159, 674 .17, being proceeds stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $319, 000.91 being proceed of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of N217, 000.04 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc…in the name of B.T Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of the sum of $311, 817.15 being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in Zenith Bank Plc… the name of BT. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
“The orders as identified and stated above shall be and are hereby forfeited to the federal government.”
Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new Chelsea Head Coach. He moves to Stamford Bridge following a two-and-a-half year spell at French champions Paris Saint-Germain, which came to an end last month. He will be the first German to manage Chelsea and arrives having guided PSG to four major honours and the Champions League final during his time in the French capital.
Prior to that, he spent seven seasons coaching in the Bundesliga, first with Mainz, where he led them into the Europa League, and then a successful period with Borussia Dortmund where he won the German Cup.
At Chelsea, he will be reunited with Christian Pulisic and Thiago Silva who he coached during his spells in Dortmund and Paris respectively.
Tuchel, who has signed an 18-month contract with the possibility of an extension, said: ‘I would like to thank Chelsea FC for their confidence in me and my staff.
‘We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea. At the same time, I cannot wait to meet my new team and compete in the most exciting league in football. I am grateful to now be part of the Chelsea family - it feels amazing!’
Director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘It is never easy to change Head Coach in the middle of the season but we are very happy to secure one of Europe’s best coaches in Thomas Tuchel. There is still much to play for and much to achieve, this season and beyond. We welcome Thomas to the Club.’
Tuchel will take his first training session this evening and will be in the dugout for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Wolves.
Though coming after persistent pressure from Nigerians, President Buhari's removal of the Service Chiefs and their replacement is a right step in the right direction.
It is yet another victory for the people of Nigeria.
The sacked Service Chiefs only served themselves and their pockets and can at best be described as "Disservice Chiefs" under whom Nigeria became completely insecured.
It is my call to the ICC and other relevant authorities that tenure of the "sacked" Service Chiefs should be investigated, most importantly human rights abuses and extra judicial killings under their watch and commands.
A multi-million naira maize farm belonging to members of the Maize Growers Processing Marketer Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) have been destroyed by herdsmen in Ekiti State.
The farm covering about 235 hectares of land is at the state forest reserve in Aduloju farmstead located along Ado-Ijan road in Ado Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking with newsmen, on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the state secretary of the association, Mr Tope Emmanuel, said the herders had been terrorising the farmers in the last one week leading to the destruction of the maize farm.
Emmanuel explained that the pastorals stormed the farm at night with dangerous weapons to feed their cows and, “all efforts to stop them have been rebuffed.”
He disclosed that members obtained about N6.6 million loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) under the anchor borrowers’ programme in September 2020 to plant the maize, adding that the 160 members had been left with nothing to cultivate from the expected proceed worth N10 million.
According to him, “Last year, we approached the CBN as a group to obtain loan worth N6.6 million for the maize farm and we planted the maize covering 235 hectares of land the farm.
“But unfortunately when we were preparing for cultivation, the herdsmen came and destroyed everything on the farm with nothing for us again. Those herders always go there during the night with dangerous weapons in the last few days and nobody can challenge them because of the arms they are holding. We can’t go to the farm now.”
Emmanuel pleaded with the state government and other stakeholders to come to their rescue in saving them from the hands of the deadly herdsmen and helped in recouping their investment.
“Don’t forget that government always say we should go to the farm and we approach the bank for loan hoping to pay back after cultivation but nothing to cultivate now as these herders have destroyed everything in the farm.
“We are begging the state government to save us as members are really in a difficult situation now in view of the loan and you can predict what might follow if nothing is done,” he said.
He said the police and the State Security Network Agency code-named Amotekun had been briefed on the incident but expressed regret that nothing was forthcoming from the security agents.
When contacted, the Ekiti Amotekun corps commander, Brig-Gen Joe Komolafe (retd), confirmed the incident, adding that, “we are handling the situation.”
#BREAKING Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten run in the #PremierLeague at Anfield came to a stunning end as Ashley Barnes's late penalty earned Burnley a 1-0 win on Thursday.
Liverpool’s misery was compounded on Thursday as lowly Burnley snatched a 1-0 victory at Anfield to end the club’s invincibility at home in over three years.
Liverpool had not lost a game at Anfield since April 2017, but Burnley broke that prowess with a victory after Ashley Barnes converted a penalty on 83 minutes.
Barnes won the battle of wills and sent an unstoppable penalty past Alisson into right side of the goal.
Before the match, Liverpool had not scored a goal in four successive games and were carrying 68 unbeaten home games run.
Divock Origi was given his first start of the season and should have scored when he ran free on goal after pouncing on Ben Mee’s error but struck the crossbar.
The hosts pushed to find the net in the second half but ran out of ideas, Nick Pope making a stunning save to deny Mohamed Salah and fellow substitute Roberto Firmino flicking an effort wide.
Burnley’s shock win lifts them up to 16th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now the highest scorer of all time, say many reports, after the 760th goal of his career, scored in Juventus' 1-0 Italian Super Cup win over Napoli - but is it true?
Ronaldo has scored five goals for Sporting Lisbon, 118 for Manchester United, 450 for Real Madrid, 85 for Juventus and 102 for Portugal - so there is no doubt about his figure.
But the confusion seems to come from his goalscoring rivals of olden days.
Data from Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) says Josef Bican is football's all-time top scorer (excluding players who have never played at the top level) with 805 career goals (from only 530 games), with Romario on 772 and Pele on 767.
Bican, who died in 2001, played for five clubs including Rapid Vienna and Slavia Prague as well as Austria and Czechoslovakia - in a career which lasted from 1931 to 1955.
But among the 805 goals were 27 for Rapid's reserve and amateur teams, as well as strikes which were not in official international games.
Remove those and Bican finished his career on 759 goals in 495 games. Well maybe, because RSSSF says some data is partially missing on the Czech second division in 1952.
So what of Pele and Romario? Again there is some dispute over their goal tallies - with both Brazilian strikers claiming to have netted more than 1,000 goals.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi recently broke Pele's world record of 643 goals for one club... but Santos then claimed Pele's friendly goals count and he scored 1,091 for the club.
Pele's own Instagram bio says he is the "Leading Goal Scorer of All Time (1,283)".
But remove friendly and unofficial strikes (including one for a military team in 1959) and Pele's 757 goals for Santos, Brazil and New York Cosmos seems to be the figure doing the rounds.
Romario celebrated his 1,000th goal in 2007 - but that included youth, friendly and testimonial games.
The Brazilian is credited with 745 goals in a career which took in spells in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia - although that goal tally seems to change from report to report.
So to answer the question, maybe Ronaldo is the highest scorer ever. Maybe. Possibly. Not sure actually.
We do know Messi is 41 behind after scoring 719 goals for Barcelona and Argentina in an era when stats are recorded more officially.
So at least we'll know which of the two definitely scored the most goals in their career.
He’s been linked to a rash of kidnappings of staff and students of the premier university...
The Nigerian Police Force has nabbed suspected kidnappers who have been terrorising Ahmadu Bello University.
One of the workers of the institution working at security department, Aliyu Abubakar, was also arrested by Special Tactical Squad of Inspector-General of Police for ‘providing’ assistance to kidnappers who have on various occasions terrorised the institution.
The Public Relations Officer of Nigerian Police, CP Frank Mba, at the ongoing parade of no fewer than 25 suspects for various offences told journalists that a suspect, Malam Jafaru, who ‘provides’ spiritual guidance to the kidnappers, was also arrested.
The arrest comes in the wake of a spate of kidnappings that have hit the university campus and its environs, with staff and students taken for ransom.
In November, gunmen forcefully abducted a staff of Ahmadu Bello University and released his wife and daughter in a gunfight with police.
Kidnappers invaded the home of the staff on university’s main campus in Zaria and took him, his wife and daughter.
The campus security passed on a distress call to police intelligence response team
Police engaged the kidnappers in a gunfight. He was released later in December.
In December, nine students of school’s French Department were abducted while on a trip.
to Lagos for an academic programme.
Their abductors demanded N270 million as ransom, according to Daily Trust newspapers.
Burna Boy‘s song “Destiny” has been included in the inauguration playlist presented by U.S President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
The Biden-Harris team on Friday presented a 46-song playlist to help supporters celebrate the upcoming Jan. 20 inauguration. The playlist which features various artiste from around the world is in line with the upcoming inauguration’s “America United” theme.
Burna Boy is the only Nigerian artiste on the list. His song, “Destiny”, is off his Grammy-nominated fourth studio album, African Giant.
“Are you planning your #Inauguration2021 at-home watch party? Well let us take one thing off your plate — @DJDNice and @TheRaedio came up with the perfect playlist for you to dance the night away as we ring in our new leaders,” the Biden Inaugural Committee tweeted.
According to Tony Allen, Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO, “Today we are excited to share President-elect Biden’s and Vice-President-elect Harris’ official inaugural playlist with the nation. These songs and artists reflect the relentless spirit and rich diversity of America.”
Allen added: “During a tumultuous year that has kept so many loved ones apart, music has been a consistent vehicle that has kept us connected. Whether you are a country soul, a jazz enthusiast, a hip hop head, a classical sort, or just love that old-time rock and roll, music clarifies, inspires, unites, and heals.”
The playlist which can be listened to on the streaming services Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music features Beyoncé‘s “Find Your Way Back“, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige‘s “Now Or Never“, SZA‘s “Good Days“, Tame Impala‘s “Let It Happen“, Major Lazer and Anitta‘s “Make It Hot“, Bob Marley and The Wailers‘ “Could You Be Loved“, Kygo and Whitney Houston‘s “Higher Love“, Marvin Gaye‘s “Got To Give It Up“, Dua Lipa‘s “Levitating” among many others.
Ali Namadi, who won last Saturday’s local government election in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, is dead.
Namadi died on Tuesday around 1:00a.m, according to this campaign’s public relations officer, Ibrahim Tiga.
His was announced early Tuesday, two days after the state’s electoral commission confirmed his victory.
The cause of his death is not yet known.
Namadi was among the successful APC chairmanship candidates in the just concluded local government council elections held on Saturday 16th January, 2021 who are still awaiting their swearing in.
His funeral prayers will take place in his hometown, Bebeji, on Tuesday morning, Tiga added.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has said that the agreement it had with the Ondo State Government was to stop night grazing and use of underage boys to graze cattle, adding that it could not be true that herders had been asked to vacate forest reserves in the state.
The Miyetti Allah National Secretary, Baba Usman, stated this in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday in reaction to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s statement that Fulani herdsmen had seven days to vacate forest reserves in the state.
Usman noted that the meeting the cattle breeders had with the state government did not include the vacation of forest reserves in the state.
He said, “I just spoke with my Ondo branch chairman. The governor of Ondo State emphasised on stopping night grazing and not allowing minors to graze cows. These were small boys and that was the agreement we had with the governor during our last visit to Ondo State sometime last year.
“We jointly agreed to stop allowing minors to graze cows. And we jointly stopped night grazing. But that was what was emphasised by the governor. So, it is not true that any Fulani man was asked to leave Ondo State.
“Nothing like forest reserves; the chairman told me that the governor asked them to stop grazing around towns and schools; they should go to the forests and graze. They should not allow small boys to graze because that is what is causing problems. So, it is not true that he asked Fulani men to leave Ondo State. It is not true.”
Governor Akeredolu on Monday reportedly ordered Fulani herdsmen to vacate all forest reserves in the state within seven days.
One Mohammed Salisu of Abujan kwata area of the Bauchi metropolis last week married his dead girlfriend one Halima of the same address after she died.
The marriage was contracted after the man paid the sum of N2, 000 brideprice to the family of the deceased girlfriend.
Blueprint gathered that the late lady once made a will that even if she died, the family should marry her off to Salisu.
It was also gathered that Salisu has been a long term lover of Halima and the duo promised to be faithful to each other forever.
Confirming the incident, Malam Bahajatu Nasir of the Bauchi state Shariah Commission explained that the marriage took place when the mother of the late Halima informed the public of her will as the funerals of the deceased set to be conducted.
He noted that the Imam who officiated the wedding ceremony one Malam Abubakar as well as the groom have been arrested by the men of the commission.
Commenting on the development, an Islamic cleric in Bauchi and Chief Imam of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi Sheikh Dr Mansur Isah Yelwa faulted the marriage saying it was null and void.
According to him, one of the rules of marriage in islam is that the couple must be alive adding that whenever a spouse dies, their marriage is over.
“So, even the ones that were already married will have the marriage dissolved immediately any of the two dies. If your spouse dies, you can marry another person. But in the case of this man that reportedly married a dead woman, the marriage is null and void as it is contrary to islamic teachings”. The cleric clarified.
The Federal Government says National Identity Numbers is mandatory for foreign diplomats, saying that an enrolment centre has been established for them at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, said this in a statement by his Technical Assistant, Dr Femi Adeluyi, on Sunday.
The statement read, “The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has approved the setting up of a National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment centre at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The desk will be set up by Tuesday, 19th of January, 2021.
“This enrolment centre will provide support for members of the Diplomatic Corps and will be managed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, through the National Identity Management Commission.
“The centre is being set up based on the request of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in order to simplify the process for diplomats.
“The National Identity Number is mandatory for diplomats who will reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more.
“It is also mandatory for all other lawful residents in the country as stated in Section 16 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007.
“The Law has made it mandatory for Nigerians and legal residents to obtain a NIN since 2007. However, compliance has been low, until recently.”
…As Coy vows to crash cost of internet in Nigeria A multinational technology company and major global player in wireless/virtual technologies, E. F. Network Ltd, has been licensed by Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) to provide internet services in Nigeria.
The approval came on the heels of the company meeting all requirements and qualifications stipulated by NCC for the grant of the license.
With the licensing of E.F. Network Ltd, competition is expected to increase among operators and make internet services more readily available, which would eventually lead to a crash of the cost of internet usage in the country.
The grant of internet license is coming barely three months after the company introduced a revolutionary product called efphontaxi.com, a high tech anti-theft and anti-kidnapping application that has the capacity to minimize activities of phone thieves and kidnappers in the country.
The Chairman/CEO E.F Network, Gideon Egbuchulam said the license would mark a positive revolution in the Nigeria internet services as it will be more available, faster and affordable to Nigerians soon.
He said the provision of internet services by E.F. Network will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of efphonetaxi and other online services offered by the company.
A court martial sitting in Sokoto has granted bail to Martins Idakpini, a Lance Corporal who criticised Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff.
Tope Akinyode, Idakpini's lawyer, made the disclosure on Thursday.
Court martial is a judicial process used in trying members of the armed forces accused of offences.
Akinyode said, “Court martial grants bail to Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini. The court sitting in Sokoto made the order today after I argued the bail application. Idakpini was arrested for criticising army authorities. He's been detained for seven months without access to his family.”
Idakpini was arrested in June 2020 shortly after he made a viral video castigating Burutai for the failings of the Nigerian Army to combat and destroy Boko Haram.
Following his arrest, he was put in detention, incomunicado.
A Federal High Court in Abuja in July ordered the Army to grant him access to his wife, lawyer and relatives.
The court had also prohibited the Army from further violating the soldier’s fundamental human rights in any unlawful manner but the Army authorities disobeyed the order.
The Army has been in the news for the wrong reasons in recent times, owing to the handling of the fight against insurgency.
Last July, more than 300 soldiers indicated their interest to quit the Army, citing “loss of interest”.
Buhari Keeps Mum As Unqualified NAPTIP Boss Assumes Office
Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s credential does not match the requirements stipulated by the NAPTIP law for the top job.
Despite her being unqualified for the job as stipulated by the law, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to rescind his appointment of Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as the head of the anti-trafficking agency, NAPTIP, as the new director-general has since assumed office.
Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim was on December 2 appointed the head of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, also known as NAPTIP, after her predecessor, Julie Okah-Donli, was axed. But she did not assume office until December 22.
Upon her appointment, this newspaper reported how the law establishing the agency was flouted to land Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim the top job.
Section 8 (1) of the NAPTIP Act 2015 mandates any appointee for the position of the the director-general of the agency to be from the directorate cadre in the civil service or from an equivalent cadre in any of the nation’s law enforcement agencies.
“There shall be for the agency a Director-General who shall be from the Directorate cadre in the public service of the Federation or its equivalent in any law enforcement service and shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister,” the section reads.
The Act further stipulates that the agency must have a board, to which the Director-General is the Secretary, and the board must be made up of Representatives of the Government, all of whom must be within the Directorate cadre in any of the ministries of Justice, women affairs, Labour and productivity, the Police, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigerian Immigration Service and the National Population Commission (NPC).
Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s credential does not match these requirements, and her appointment makes it the second time ever the NAPTIP law was breached while appointing the head of the agency. Mr Buhari was president both times.
A politician and businesswoman, Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s stint in public office was as a special adviser on strategic communication to the Minister of State for Education.
This implies that she was only a political appointee whose appointment ends with the expiration of the tenure of the current government, and, therefore, did not meet the directorate cadre prerequisite for the position she now holds.
Authorities have since kept mum about the appointment, an indication they approve of Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim assumption of office or are unwilling to do anything about it.
Again on Wednesday, Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, directed all comments to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, whose spokeswoman, Halima Oyelade, declined comment.
The spokesman of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willy Bassey, also declined comment.
Undeterred, the new appointee has since commenced work and has been seen in the public performing functions and visiting dignitaries, including her state governor in Nasarawa.
On Tuesday, she released a statement saying that NAPTIP has handed over 22 rescued children to the Kaduna State Government.
Bauchi State Police Command has burst another sex party arresting 20 suspects believed to be organizers of the party.
While parading the suspected sex party organizers alongside other suspected criminals at the Police Command headquarters on Wednesday, Commissioner, Lawal Tanko Jimeta said that the suspects were arrested following reliable information on their activities.
Represented by the PPRO, DSP Ahmed Wakili, the Police Commissioner disclosed that, “Based on reliable Intel that suspected criminal syndicates notorious for thuggery (Sara-Suka), Phone snatching, and indecent acts including sex parties, were terrorizing residents of the state, the Command raised a team of detectives led by the Commander Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) who immediately embarked on around the clock operation which resulted in the apprehension of the following suspects.”
He added that Findings revealed that on the same day of their arrest at about 2000hrs, they had conspired among themselves and organized a party suspected to be sex party with attendant series of atrocities within Dass town.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: One Ranki, one tsitaka, one machete, one cutlass and Three knives
Those arrested included Ishaya Adamu 19yrs; Mohammed Abdullahi Lawwali 22yrs; Ayuba Adamu 19yrs; Aminu Tago 19yrs; Mubarak Baba 22yrs; Anas Sulaiman alias (Danarna) 16yrs; Yusuf Ahmed 20yrs and Abba Abdullahi 20yrs.
Others are Sulaiman Umar 20yrs; Abdulrashid Ali 17yrs; Aliyu Iliya 15yrs; Idris Sulaiman 22yrs; Nuru Sarki 17yrs; Ibrahim Musa 20yrs; Musa Danasabe 17yrs; Abdulrashid Anas 18yrs; Salmanu Ibrahim 22yrs and Kasimu Haladu 26yrs, all of Dass town, Bauchi State. The suspects will be profiled and charged to court.
An FCT High Court in Kubwa, Abuja, has granted an application for stay of proceedings in a case between controversial lawyer Kenechukwu Okeke and 50 prominent Nigerians accused of championing the historic #EndSARS protests last year.
Justice Bello Kawu in his ruling on Wednesday, granted the prayers of the applicants who had, among other things, sought an order of the court restraining the Nigeria Police Force, and the Abuja police commissioner from arresting or taking further steps against them on the matter.
This followed an application filed by one of the counsels to the applicants, Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr.
Mr. Okeke, the controversial Abuja-based lawyer had last November filed a criminal complaint against rights activists Deji Adeyanju and Aisha Yesufu, as well as popular singer Davido and preacher Sam Adeyemi among others, at an Abuja magistrate’s court in Wuse.
The lawyer had sought punishment for the prominent personalities, who also included Tiwa Savage, Feyikemi Abudu, Wizkid and Dipo Awojide, for their roles in enhancing advocacy for the now rested protests against decades of police atrocities against citizens.
A chief magistrate in Abuja, Omolola Akindele, had directed the Abuja police commissioner Bala Ciroma to investigate the activists.
The lawsuit, which had sparked public outrage, was widely perceived as an ill-fated scheme to silence the plurality of Nigerians.
A 35-year-old bartender, Godwin Job, was on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 sentenced to eight years in prison for illegally withdrawing the sum of N1,079,290 (One million, Seventy Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Naira) from a Fidelity Bank account belonging to his boss, Olufemi Joseph Odusanya.
Job was convicted by Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court in a two-count charge bordering on stealing, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office.
Following an investigations into a petition from his estranged boss, the Commission arraigned Job on August 17, 2020 to answer for the criminal allegations against him.
The charges are: “Godwin Job (a.k.a Nifemi) “M’ sometime in August 2019 or there about, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this court did steal an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card, property of Olufemi Joseph Odusanya and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 390 (9) Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State 2000.”
“Godwin Job (a.k.a Nifemi) “M’ sometime in August 2019 or there about, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this court did steal the sum of One million, Seventy Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Naira (N1,079,290) the property of Olufemi Joseph Odusanya, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) Criminal Code, Cap 38 Law of Oyo State 2000.”
The boss had accused Job of stealing his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card through which he withdrew cash and made Point of Sales (POS) transactions totaling N1,079,290.
In the course of investigation, the Commission discovered that Job made 14 transactions within two hours to evacuate the said amount from the victim’s account.
Though he pleaded not guilty upon arraignment, the judge held that the prosecution was able to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused indeed committed the unlawful act.
He then found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to four years in prison in each of the charges, which will run concurrently from the day of conviction.
THE spate of insecurity in Ughelli and environs in Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, have continued to deteriorate following the killing of three mobile policemen by a gang of unidentified gunmen.
The incident occured at a fast-food spot located along the East-West road on Sunday night.
The attack is coming a few days after a new Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Benjamin Igometi took over the reins of affairs of the Ughelli ‘A’ division with a charge on him to curb the raising spate of insecurity in the area.
Though the State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya was yet to confirm the incident when contacted, a source at the scene of the incident said the hoodlums took the slain policemen unawares, shot them at close range and made away with their rifles.
Three days after the death of popular Yoruba actress, Mrs Folake Aremu, widely known as Orisabunmi, her younger sister Mrs Janet Ademola, has reportedly passed on.
News of the demise of Ademola, the last child of the family, was broken on Saturday by Gbenga Onisola, her nephew.
It will be recalled that Orisabunmi’s brother, Steve Onisola, had died on Thursday, barely 24hours after the death of the popular actress.
Onisola, the Technical Director of Kwara Falcons Basketball Club, Ilorin, passed on at age 71 after a brief illness.
Ademola, who was mourning her sister’s death, had in an interview with The PUNCH on Friday, described her elder sister as her best friend, a caring sister and a mother with a rare heart of love.
She had said, “The death of my elder sister, Mrs Folake Aremu, is very painful because of what she stood for in our lives as family members. She was very friendly and caring; she never left her siblings untended. We are pained because she stood in as a good mother for all of us.
“As the last child of the family, she took very good care of me. We were very close and used to each other. She gave her best to ensure that I was well catered for. She was a selfless fellow. She was very humane and she persevered a lot. She would not underrate anyone.”
BREAKING: Residents flee as Boko Haram attack Gujba in Yobe Residents fled their homes in Gujba town of Gujba local Government Area of Yobe State less than 24 hours after the Nigerian Military launched an operation codename ‘Tura Takao Bango’ meaning ‘ We have been pushed to the wall’ in reaction to the terrorists’ ceaseless onslaughts on the region.
Residents of Gujba, who spoke to newsmen in Damaturu the Yobe state capital, said, their town is currently under attack by the insurgents who burnt down health facilities and other structures in the area.
“Boko Haram is currently attacking our town,” a resident, Umar Adamu told DAILY POST, adding that “Our people have left their homes as I am talking to you.”
Gujba seems to be the first reaction by the terrorists shortly after the military said they are ready to give a final push to clear the remnants of the terrorists and deny them the will to operate in the northeast.
According to residents of Gubja, there was rumour of letters in circulation that the terrorists were coming to attack but residents felt that letter would end up as rumour, however, the attack this evening is a proof that the insurgents are very much around.
Another resident, Ibrahim Usman State that while soldiers have blocked the way to Katarko another town to deny the insurgents from making an inroad to the town, troops were also seen making efforts to engage the terrorists in Gujba town.
“Troops have been mobilised to the town to engage them. We are waiting but many of our people have fled to safety,” Ibrahim Usman said.
Politics › Homosexuality Rises In Nigeria Few Days Into Biden’s Presidency by Doraty1(op): 6:22am On Jan 30, 2021
