Gunmen have kidnapped Oba David Oyewumi, the Obadu of Ilemeso in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti, police said on Friday.

The gunmen took the ruler after invading his palace on Thursday.

ASP Sunday Abutu, the spokesman for the police in the state, described it as “unfortunate and regrettable’’.

“We are already doing everything necessary to rescue him and apprehend the culprits,’’ he said.

Sources in Ilemeso told newsmen that the gunmen, numbering six scaled the Oba’s fence and fired several shots in the air to scare its occupants.

They said the incident happened at about 8.30 p.m. on Thursday night when the chiefs who visited the place had left.

“After they gained entry, the gunmen asked after the Oba which showed that they really came for him,’’ one of the sources said.

Ilemeso is a neighbouring town to Isan Ekiti, country home of Gov. Kayode Fayemi.

Oba Adetutu Ajayi, the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, narrowly escaped kidnap at Isan Ekiti, last week on the Ewu-Ayetoro road.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has called for the deployment of troops in the state following attacks and kidnap of royal fathers by gunmen.

There was panic in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State again, following the killing of a 56-year-old farmer, Muftau Babarinde in the area.

Vanguard gathered that Babarinde was hacked to death by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Orita Merin, Konko village in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.

The incident which has thrown the people in Tapa, where the deceased hailed from, into confusion, was said to have happened at around 7 pm on Wednesday.

Babarinde, it was gathered, had gone to his farm, to give his labourers food and was returning home when the hoodlums waylaid him and hacked him to death.

Some of the residents of the area said they could not say what was responsible for the killing of the farmer, who they said was very popular in the area.

Some of them said those responsible were some of those who were sent packing when the OPC and vigilantes stormed the residence of Iskilu Wakili to arrest him in February.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adewale Osifeso, when contacted confirmed the incident, saying that more information would be made public as the investigation has commenced.

But some of the people in the area including the Convener, Igangan Development Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, confirmed the killing.

He said in an interview with Vanguard, that man was killed by suspected herdsmen and the killing had thrown the area into panic, saying the government and security agents had failed the people.

His words: “This has shown to the public we don’t have any security again. The government and security agencies have failed us. We can’t sleep with our two eyes closed any longer.”

Unknown gunmen have reportedly killed three policemen while the officers were on ‘stop and search’ along Onuebonyi, Nwezenyi Road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, DAILY POST has gathered.

It was gathered that the incident occurred Wednesday night when the gunmen opened fire on the officers, killed three and carted away rifles belonging to the deceased.

When contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Odah Loveth Obianuju told DAILY POST that the incident “could be true but it’s not officially confirmed yet”.

According to her, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operation, was at the scene to ascertain the level of damage.

She said: “It could be true but I’m still waiting for the Deputy Commissioner of Operation who has gone to the area for an on-the-spot assessment to actually come back with the details of this report”.

She promised to get back to our correspondent after the return of the Deputy Commissioner.

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, says some people who have no interest in the south-east are trying to incite war in the region.

The governor said this on Wednesday when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’.

On Sunday, governors of the south-east region announced the setup of a joint security outfit, codenamed ‘Ebube Agu’.

They said the establishment of the outfit is a part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.

When asked how Ebube Agu is being communicated to the people to enable them to take ownership of it, Umahi responded that it did not matter to him if it inspires confidence or not.

He said citizens need to be careful because there are some people who are planning to incite war in the south-east.

“The problem of this country is that people will leave their problems and make your problem their problem. But what some of these people are doing is to incite the south-east into war and step aside, and we are not going to buy into that; we’re not going to be deceived again,” he said.

“Whether it inspires confidence or not, it does not matter to me. What matters to me is that our people will be satisfied with our efforts in protecting their lives and property. People must be very careful, and know that there are grand plans by people who have no interest in south-east, to incite them into war and we are wiser than that.”

A lot of people who want to get the top go and hire bandits to attack police and tag them IPOB; they are not IPOB; they are hired criminals, says Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.

The First Lady of Zamfara State, Hajiya Aisha Bello Muhammad Matawalle has secured appointments of Special Assistants to Governor Bello Matawalle for 20 members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the state.

The First Lady’s spokesperson, Zainab Abdullahi, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the State Chairman MACBAN, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar lauded the First Lady for her efforts in making meaningful change to Fulanis and other members of the community, the statement said.

Abubakar also expressed immense appreciation to Governor Bello Matawalle for his support to the fulanis and involving them in his administration.

He assured that MACBAN will continue to give its maximum support and co-operation towards the success of Matawalle’s administration and for the development of the state.

Presenting the appointment letters to the beneficiaries in Gusau on Tuesday, the First Lady congratulated the appointees and assured them of a sustainable working relationship with Miyetti Allah group in promoting peace and unity in the state.

Hajiya Matawalle said the beneficiaries comprised of women and men of the group.

According to her, the gesture is aimed at supporting members of the group in appreciating them for promoting peaceful existence in the state.

The Ebonyi State government has said the attack on the people of Umuogudu Akpu-Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State, in the early hours of Monday, was not carried out by Fulani herdsmen.

DAILY POST had reported that attackers started shooting sporadically in the community, killing at least four persons.

Reacting, Mr Monday Uzor, Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, in a statement released to newsmen said preliminary investigations showed that the attack was not carried out by Fulani herdsmen as being speculated in different quarters.

“Ebonyi State Government has received with dismay violent attack on the people of Umuogudu Akpu-Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Monday.

“Preliminary investigations showed that the attack was not carried out by Fulani herdsmen as being speculated in different quarters.

“The Government of Ebonyi State is in touch with the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen (Miyetti Allah) who denied involvement in the attack.

“Also, the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen has assured Government and people of Ebonyi State that they will not on any account perpetrate an attack on any part of the state.

“Moreso, the recent attack on Ngbo is linked to the age-long crisis between the community and their Agila neighbours of Benue State.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted not fewer than 15 traders traveling in a commercial vehicle along Tsaskiya-Ummadau road in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

In a swift reaction, the Katsina state police command said persons abducted were nine and not 15.

It was gathered that the incident happened at about 3pm on Sunday when the traders conveyed in J5 with registration number KZR 345 ZT while returning from Jibia market.

A source in the area, Aliyu Rumawa said the gunmen numbering 20 upon seeing the vehicle shoot sporadically into the air to cause chaos and after which they whisked away 15 out of the 18 passengers traveling in the vehicle.

“Fifteen out of 18 passengers in the vehicle were taken away by the bandits, numbering about 20 and heavily armed.

“The passengers were returning from Jibia market and most of them are traders,” the source said.

The Spokesperson, Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah told journalists in the state that only nine of the victims were abducted out of which four were rescued and five others whisked away.

#LagosCityMarathon
Meseret Dinke of Ethiopia is the women's champion of the 2021 Lagos City Marathon.

Second position for the women is Celestine Jepchirchir of kenya, while in third place is Desta Muluneh of Ethiopia

Emmanuel Naibei of Kenya has won the 6th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Naibei beat thousands of marathoners on Saturday morning to win the 42km race in 2 hours 11 minutes and 37 seconds and also claim the grand prize of $30,000.

The Federal Government has presented provisional licences to the 20 new private universities recently approved by Federal Executive Council.

The licences, which were presented to the universities on Thursday in Abuja, brings the total number of private universities to 99.

‘A scattered family can’t fix Nigeria’, Nigerians react as Aisha Buhari launches book

The Federal Executive Council in February 2021, approved the establishment of 20 new private universities.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the approval for the establishment of these universities is a testament to the continued partnership of the federal government with the private sector towards widening access and quality of university education in Nigeria.

Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, the minister said Nigeria needs more universities considering the population of the country.

The minister said, with the population of the country, the current number of universities is low when compared to that of other countries like Brazil, Mexico and Russia.

He maintained that the government will continue to ensure that as quantity is increased, the quality is not compromised.

While noting that private universities have contributed to the opening up of the growth of admission, he urged the proprietors to live up to the standard, noting that quality assurance should not be compromised.

The approved universities are, Topfaith University Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara; Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Imo; Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa; Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano, Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo; Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River; Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo.

Also on the list are NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna, Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau, James Hope University, Lagos, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Capital City University, Kano, Ahman Pategi University, Kwara, University of Offa, Kwara.

Others are, Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger; Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja; Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa and Anan University, Kwall, Plateau

In his remark, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed, congratulated the proprietors of the new universities on their zeal and determination in pursuing the great initiative of establishing universities to address the seemingly intractable problem of inadequate access to quality university education in Nigeria.

He however warned that government will not tolerate a breach of the conditions for the approval, saying, “Any unwholesome practice or operation outside the provisions of NUC guidelines is unacceptable and will attract appropriate sanctions.”

He said NUC will embark on a resource verification exercise to certify that the minimum human and material resources required for the commencement of academic activities in the take-off programmes have been provided.

The newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has promised an improvement in the security situation in Nigeria.

Baba was yesterday appointed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

He assumed the role today after a ceremony in Abuja which saw his predecessor, Mohammed Adamu, hand over to him.

Speaking after the ceremony, Baba said, “You will see improvement on where my predecessor has left. I came in at a very challenging time. I know it. I recognise it and I will work on how to improve from where my predecessor has left.

“I have been a member of the management team. We have tried to do our best, but it’s not enough. There is room for improvement.

“Nigerians should expect improvement in the security situation. And Nigerians should also collaborate and cooperate with us. With all the inadequacies we have, we still require everybody to be part of policing in this country.”

The new police boss acknowledged the yearnings of Nigerians and promised to build a force with human rights at heart.

He stressed that his appointment comes at a time when terrorism, kidnappings, banditry and secessionist agitations are threatening the nation’s security.

“Much as the challenge of leading the force to address these threats in the shortest possible time frame, restore security order, and return our beloved nation to the path of national unity may appear daunting, I am inspired by the fact that from my extensive years of service, I can confidently say that the Nigeria police is endowed with some of the finest, courageous and patriotic officers who, undoubtedly, shall support me to advance the internal security vision of Mr. President,” he said.

He added, “I am also encouraged by the fact that the outgoing IGP has laid a solid foundation and entrenched a culture of professional efficiency in the Force. These will stimulate me in my capacity as the new acting IGP, to strengthen our strategies and provide the requisite leadership that will change the narratives in relation to our operational approach to the current security threats.”

An exclusive investigation by Vanguard revealed that from the thousands of fleeing inmates some were said to have taken up menial jobs within and outside the Owerri metropolis to raise money.

Vanguard was told that the choice areas for these inmates were brothels, motor parks, market square, even as some were said to have started the hawking trade. Also, some were said to have taken refuge in uncompleted buildings as their home as well as mingle around nightlife hotspots.

Eyewitnesses narrated their experiences to Vanguard with the said inmates. The places visited by Vanguard include Control post along Onitsha road, Whethdral roundabout up to Poly Junction, IMSU junction as well as Irete axis on Owerri/Onitsha road.

According to reports received by Vanguard, some notorious inmates do not want to go to their village, because they are afraid that they would be reported to the security agencies. Therefore, they engage in pick-pocketing at night to raise money quickly for themselves.

Some on the other hand are looking to raise little money through cleaning jobs as part of starting afresh, just as some of them said they needed money to go back to their villages, as their people are not even aware that they were in prison for many years and that they were imprisoned by intimidation and false allegations against them.

Those who said they had an encounter with some of the inmates, one Chike, known as “iron” said: “Our happiness is that my guy is back from prison thanks to the people who released them. My brother all the way from Ebonyi came to do hawking business and was arrested that they demolished Eke Ukwu market in Owerri. He committed no crime. We did not know he was in prison.”

Another drama was said to have played out in Control post, a group of said to be “bad boys” jubilated over their freed friends one of which was said to have been arrested in connection with an alleged robbery/kidnapping between Control post, World Bank and Hospital junction along Owerri/ Port Harcourt road.

They said: “Our men are back. We are drinking and enjoying. Work begins, who be police. Signal my man is back. They can’t come out now, later in the night. Men can’t go back to the village. That one no-follow.”

A businessman, in Irete, who did not want his name mentioned said: “Some of these inmates are innocent. Two of them were in my friends business premises. They opened up and said they were among those freed and explained how they got into prison. My brother, you will shed tears.

“Our people are suffering. They pleaded to my friend, that they want to join his boys in offloading bags of cement and clean up his business premises in order to raise money and go home. They said they are from Ngor Okpala local government area and have been in prison for more than 15 years. But my friend gave them N5000 and gave them food and that they should go home.”

In another encounter, a source, owner of a business/entertainment outfit around one of the nightlife areas in Owerri, who chose to remain anonymous said: “Is it not the prisoners that now work as cleaners? They are responsible ladies just that they look famished and malnourished, but with time they will be Ok. What they need is just rehabilitation as some of them complained that they did nothing that should warrant their imprisonment.

“Some of them are now in market places, motor parks as cleaners, some doing hawking business. It is not everything we see we say sometimes. You see, they are ready to wash plates. Some of them have repented. Some of them did not commit any offence. This is is wicked country.”

Gunmen on Tuesday razed the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State.

This development came just a day after unknown gunmen attacked Owerri Correctional Centre and the Imo State Police Command headquarters, freeing 1,884 inmates and razing over 50 vehicles.

Tuesday’s attack came few hours after the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, the just sacked Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, and other Government functionaries visited the state to inspect the level of damage on the attacked security facilities.

On arrival, the gunmen freed all the suspects in detention before setting the Police Divisional headquarters ablaze.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen operated without any resistance from policemen.

A source said, “Gunmen this evening razed Ehime Mbano LGA police divisional headquarters. On arrival, the gunmen freed the suspects before wrecking the havoc.”

A Police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that he could not confirm the development when he was contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday evening.

But a senior police officer who does not want his name in print said that the Command’s hierarchy was saddened by the latest development.

The PUNCH reports that gunmen had between February and March razed Obowo, Abo Mbaise, Ihitte/ Uboma and Isiala Mbano Divisional Police Headquarters, killings three cops and injuring others.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates, 2021 – First Series.

Head of the Nigeria National Office, WAEC, Mr Patrick Areghan, told reporters on Tuesday the examination was primarily designed to help candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions to reduce the waiting time for results and beat admission deadlines.

He said: “The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates shows that out of the Seven Thousand Two Hundred and Eighty-Nine (7,289) candidates that sat the examination:

“Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Eight (2,938) candidates representing 40.31 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics; out of which One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety-Six (1,396) were male and One Thousand five Hundred and Forty-Two (1,542) were female candidates, representing 47.52%and 52.48 % respectively;

“Two Thousand One Hundred and Ninety-Five (2,195) candidates representing 30.11 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

“Of this number, One Thousand and Seventy-Four (1,074) i.e. 48.93 per cent were male candidates, while One Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-One (1,121) i.e. 51.07 per cent were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2019 and 2020, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 26.08 per cent and 32.23 per cent respectively. Thus, there is a marginal decrease of 2.12 per cent in performance in this regards.”

In what appears to be a purge, Twitter has suspended the accounts of several influencers in Nigeria.

The social media profiles of over fifteen influencers became inaccessible as some twitter users noticed the suspension late Monday.

“Twitter suspends accounts which violate the Twitter Rules,” the profile pages of these suspended accounts showed.

The Nation learnt the suspension might be unconnected to the influencers promoting a controversial trend, which must have violated some of twitter rules.

It was also learnt many other accounts outside Nigeria were also suspended indefinitely for involving in a coordinated online campaign to obstruct justice.

A Twitter user, @OdogwuAnicah said: “Danny walter, Tife, Volqx, Lamar, Uncle Mohamz, Pamilerin, Valhalla, Four eyed Edo Boy all got suspended.

“Mbah and Bisi got suspended too. Including @JustKelechi @Yucee_ @Divineze @ogaKnowledge, @AimThaMachine_, @UgwunnaEjikem @FestusGreen, @CO_Chiamaka @Anambra_girl,” he added.

In 2019, Twitter also suspended accounts of some social media influencers ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Badmus Hakeem (Tweets @Bhadoosky), Jokunle (@Jokunle), Ani Nomso (@ani_nomso), Shawnife (@Shawnife_), Official Bmax (@OfficialBmax), Uche Kush (@UcheKush_), Lazy Writa (@LazyWrita), Rouvafe (@Rouvafe), Abdulaxis (@iam_abdulaxis), Switchme, Enekem Greg (@EnekemGreg) were suspended.

Aggrieved villagers from the eight wards in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have raised the alarm that armed bandits have taken over their local government, sacking over 100 communities in the process.

While adressing journalists on predicament of the people at the Correspondents Chapel office, Minna on Monday, President of Lakpma Youth Assembly said: “The bandits have now made Allawa Games Reserve as their hideout because the government has ceded our lands to them.”

He said the Lakpma axis has suffered persistent banditry, which has culminated in the loss of over 120 lives, rape of women, cattle rustling, destruction and capturing of over 100 communities.

According to Jibrin Allawa: “Without prejudice to the above, the government appears incapacitated or unwilling to do the needful, as recent events suggest the Government has ceded Allawa, Bassa and indeed the entire Lakpma axis to bandits and terrorists.

“We shall mobilize our displaced and hopeless kinsmen to occupy and take shelter in government facilities within Minna if our plight is not addressed in earnest. Until our plight is addressed, we would boycott all civic responsibilities to the state.”

The death of the 20th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has been announced and an Olu designate presented.

The announcement was made on Monday at the ancestral home of all Itsekiri, Ode-Itsekiri (Big Warri) by the Iyatsere of Warri kingdom, Chief Johnson Atserunleghe, on behalf of the Itsekiri National Assembly.

Making the announcement at the Assembly of all Itsekiri, the Iyatsere also introduced the Olu-designate, Prince Itieyinoritsetsola Emiko, to the people.

But while announcing the demise of the Olu at the solemn assembly, Chief Atserunleghe broke the symbolic pots containing white native chalks one after the other on the floor, announcing: “Ale-jefun ooo” after each session.

The announcement of the departure of the 20th Olu was also greeted with 20 cannon shots signifying that 20 Olus had reigned so far.

Meanwhile, three months of mourning of the departed Olu has been announced with ritual restrictions.

During the restrictions, no ceremony involving drumming and dancing is allowed in Iwere land, no merry-making of any kind and all Itsekiri sons and daughters are expected to tie their wrappers upside down for the duration of the mourning.

Biography of Olu-designate, Prince Tsola Emiko

Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko was born on April 2, 1984, to Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko (The late Ogiame Atuwatse II) and Gladys Durorike Emiko in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.

He attended the NNPC Primary School in Warri and for his secondary education, at Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State, from 1995 to 2001.

Emiko got admitted to Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States where he bagged his Bachelor’s of Arts, majoring in International Studies and Political Science, while minoring in History and Economics between 2002 and 2006.

He went further to earn a Masters of Science in Management from Case Western Reserve University in 2007.

He returned to Nigeria for his NYSC in 2008 where he served in the Public Affairs Department of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS).

From 2009 to 2010, he worked as an officer at the Shell Night Closed Pension Fund Administrator (SNCFPA) and worked for Sahara Energy as a Government Relations Officer (2010-2012).

He is the Chairman, Ocean Marine Security Ltd and Director, Gulf of Guinea Ltd and Vessellink Nig Ltd. His business acumen may be said to have flowed down from his late Father.

After 48 hours of disconnecting MTN customers from banking channels including the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and banking apps, commercial banks on Sunday have reconnected MTN customers to banking channels, The PUNCH can confirm.

Our correspondent gathered that the development followed the intervention of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

The PUNCH had reported that the banks blocked MTN customers on Friday, leaving millions of MTN subscribers frustrated as they were unable to recharge airtime via USSD amid the Easter celebrations.

MTN, with about 77 million subscribers, making up about 45 per cent of the total telecommunication market share in Nigeria, is arguably the largest telecommunication operator in the country.

The blockade occurred when the telco reduced the banks’ commission from 4.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent. The banks had written MTN to revert to the old commission, otherwise, they would block MTN airtime in all their channels.

The banks, except Zenith Bank which was connected directly to MTN, subsequently blocked MTN from their banking channels, leaving millions of customers stranded as they were unable to recharge virtually.

MTN had explored alternative electronic payment platforms such as Flutterwave, Jumia Pay, OPay, Kuda, Carbon and BillsnPay for customer to recharge their phones.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed the murder of the state chairman, of the Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders Association, Mohammed Hussaini and another another leader in the Toto local government area, by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani Bandits

The Command Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel confirmed this in a telephone conversation with Ait.live in Lafia the state capital.

Nansel explained that the incident occurred at the Garaku local government area of the state and Upon receipt of the information, at about 11 pm on Friday night, the Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, swiftly deployed Operation Puff Adder II personnel to the scene, where the two corpses were recovered and deposited at the Anthony memorial Mortuary for post Mortem examination, after being confirmed dead by a medical Doctor.

The State Police Commissioner, Bola Longe, appealed to the members of the public, to provide useful information with the assurance that such leads, will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

The Police boss assured that, the Command will do everything within its powers, to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for the ongoing national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise by four weeks.

The new deadline is May 6, 2021.

In a statement on Friday, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, said the extension was endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

More than 51million Nigerians have now been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, during the weekly ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Media Team, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

He said registration for NIN is not optional, but a mandate by law, warning that failure to enroll precludes defaulting citizens and residents from operating certain functions like using banks and communication services.

He also warned that failure to obtain the NIN could lead to between seven or 14 years imprisonment as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, no one should enjoy government services without the number.

He said rather than population census that can be manipulated, NIN will determine the accurate number of Nigerians because of its uniqueness and tamper-proof.

He also disclosed that about 189 million Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) have been registered in the country, explaining that 150 million, out of this number, are completed registration while the remainder have problems of improper registration.

He said the improper registration has posed a challenge that government is currently dealing with.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has said that state governors should not be blamed for the insecurity within their states, as, according to him, they are not the ones controlling the security agencies in their respective states.

Alaafin added that all the security agencies in the states are being controlled by the Federal Government, as security is in the exclusive list of the Nigeria Constitution.

The Alaafin made the statement during a meeting Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had with traditional rulers and security agencies in the state, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, the meeting had in attendance the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I; a representative of the Soun of Ogbomoso; members of the Oyo State Traditional Council; the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko and other security commanders, among others.

At the meeting, Governor Makinde declared that his administration will continue to work with traditional rulers in all the nooks and crannies of the state to tackle insecurity, adding that his government would equally continue to protect the lives and properties of citizens.

Governor Makinde maintained that as part of measures to improve the security situation in the state, the administration has set up a Security Task Force comprising cabinet members and heads of security agencies including Operation Burst and Amotekun.

He added that the government has equally introduced the voluntary policing approach in which non-state actors will work together with other security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state.

Describing them as all-important stakeholders in the issue of security, the governor called on traditional rulers to join hands with the state government to improve the security of the state.

The Governor, who reiterated the need for qualitative intelligence gathering, said there could be no security without intelligence gathering, adding that his government would continue to improve security in the state, as the economic growth being experienced in Oyo State can only be sustained if there is adequate security.

He added that the government will collaborate with traditional rulers to improve the security of the state, as, according to him, intelligence gathering would not succeed without getting closer to the people, especially the royal fathers.

He said: “I have said before that security cannot work without intelligence gathering and we cannot gather intelligence without getting closer to the people. In all of the troubled areas across our state, the royal fathers often get information before we do, and that is why it is important that we must collaborate with you.

“The reason we are in this meeting today is because security is one of the four pillars of our administration, and one of our key policies as contained in the roadmap for accelerated development in Oyo State (2019-2023).

“There are actually four cardinal points, which this administration is standing on.

We have Health, Education, Expansion of our Economy and Security. So, If Oyo State is to continue on the path to economic growth, then, the state’s security architecture must be maintained.

“So far, Oyo State is doing well economically and this is as a result of the policies which this administration has put in place. For example, the February 2021 inflation report for all food items showed that Oyo State has the lowest inflation rate in the country.

“While other states are battling with increases in food prices and other things, in Oyo State, the cost of transportation, housing and food items, including bread, yam, fruits and vegetables, have remained stable.

But if we want to continue to enjoy this stability, we must ensure that we maintain a secure environment.”

The governor equally explained that the state’s Security Task Force was set up as a matter of emergency to address the various security challenges and ensure that the state is always on top of security situation.

He added that the committee would regularly link up with traditional rulers and stakeholders across all local government areas to have requisite information on happenings across localities.

“Earlier this month”, he continued, “we reviewed the security situation and it has stabilized a little bit but the improvement is not what we want, as it is marginal.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our security agencies because they are trying their best. They have been responsive but there is still a lot to do.

“After the evaluation of our situation, we decided to set up the Security Task Force/War Room.

We call it the War Room because the situation we are faced with is war in the sense that Oyo State people must sleep with their two eyes closed. And until they are able to do that, we also will not sleep.

“So, we had our inaugural meeting and since then, we have been meeting weekly to address security issues. Why I set it up as a Task Force was because this time last year, when the COVID-19 came, we set up a Task Force.

“Members were meeting every 48hours for almost six months; and afterwards, we made it a weekly meeting and, by the grace of God, we led the entire country in tackling that pandemic. So, it is an approach that has worked for us and we know that it will work for us in tackling the insecurity issue too.

“If our plans are to work effectively, we need the buy-in of everyone in Oyo State, but most importantly, you, our fathers in each of our communities, we need your buy-in and that is why I have invited you for this meeting today.”

The governor, who sought the cooperation and support of all stakeholders across the state to enable the state government have the right security information on a prompt and regular basis, said:

“I called you here today not to threaten you but to ask you to work with this administration to tackle insecurity in our various areas of the state.

“We also know that if you understand why we are taking some measures against insecurity, you will be the ones in the best position to communicate this to our people.

For instance, if we talk about people working in the mining area, some of our traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun will sign documents for those who need land for mining for peanuts.

If we interact on what we desire to do, you can also advise us on the local situation in your areas.

“So, I believe that with this, misunderstanding about some policies of the government will reduce and that is part of why I have called this meeting.

“You are the ones who see some of these foreigners as they enter Oyo State and you can report when strangers have come in.

“You can give government information because you know whoever is accommodating strangers.”

The governor noted that the traditional rulers have demonstrated their support for the government and have shown that the security of the state is so paramount to them and must be maintained.

On the issue of voluntary policing, he said: “With the approach of voluntary policing, all non-state actors can also be reined-in and we need your support to achieve that.

If you know some stubborn youths around your areas, they should go after the criminals,” he said, adding that the state government has directed that in all Local Government Areas in the state, there must be security meetings at least twice a month.

Governor Makinde also assured the traditional rulers that his administration will continue to work on improving the security and, by extension, the economy of Oyo State, stating, however, that the country’s weak federal system has been a major constraint to the states.

“We won’t shy away from the assignment you have given to us. We won’t come back to you with excuses.

Yes, there are constraints as the Kabiyesi [Alaafin of Oyo] has said. The peculiar federal arrangement we have is a challenge.

“They said we are fighting against federal arrangement. No, we are actually fighting against a unitary arrangement.

The founding fathers of Nigeria signed up for a federal arrangement, not a unitary arrangement but this is where we are.

There are challenges but it is this issue of insecurity that actually brought the challenges up.

“But I give you the assurance that we will not throw our hands in the air and say it is because we don’t have a very smooth interaction between the state’s representatives and the people in Abuja.

“Whatever we can do will be done and with the support of everyone; the state actors, non-state actors and traditional rulers, I believe we will achieve a secure Oyo State.”

Earlier at the meeting, the Alaafin, while advocating the introduction of State Police, said: “If we do not embrace state police, all the state governments will remain puppets under the Federal Government.”

He explained that Governor Seyi Makinde cannot be blamed for the present insecurity in the state, as he maintained that the present administration in the state has been working day and night to curb insecurity in all the length and breadth of the state.

The foremost traditional ruler commended Governor Makinde and other South-West governors for the establishment of Amotekun, saying that the establishment of this security outfit was apt and that it served as a breakthrough.

He said: “I want to say that we traditional rulers and royal fathers are stakeholders in the issue of security. They are killing and raping our sons and daughters in public. They are killing our people as well.

“It is appalling that we still see some of the people we have arrested and handed over to the Police on the street gallivanting around.

“Our governor is doing the right thing but we don’t really have superior power over the constitution guiding us.

“So, when it comes to the issue of insecurity, there is nothing the state government can do if the Federal Government fails to do the needful.

“If our governor orders Police to carry out an assignment and another order comes from the FG, definitely nothing will be done. So, don’t let us deceive ourselves.

“Even our governor cannot command the Army and he has no power over it.

“Now, 70 per cent of our farmers in Ibarapa have left their farmlands. They no longer farm again. If we do not succeed in having State Police, the states will continue to be puppets under the Federal Government.

“Your Excellency, you can actually put up a wonderful edifice but the operation of the constitution will not allow you to achieve the goal.”

In his remark, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who spoke through the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Senator Lekan Balogun, said three groups including the government, security agencies and traditional rulers must collaborate for the security of any state to be guaranteed.

Similarly, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko, said that the security agencies need intelligence gathering and necessary information from the general public so as to assist them to do an effective job of securing society.

Two senior officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) are currently enmeshed in a N122 million fraudulent claims scandal, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report.

The officials, Yakubu Gontor, head of the finance department, and Philip Eretan, former head of the internal audit department of the agency, received the funds as allowances for trips they never made.

They were indicted by an investigative committee which was set up by the commission’s governing board in 2020.

While Mr Gontor was said to have received a total of N54 million as accruable allowances for official trips he never made, Mr Eretan is said to have fraudulently raked in about N68 million.

The committee, which was headed then by Millionaire Abowei, a professor and member of the board of the commission, recommended that apart from refunding the illegally received monies, the two officials should be made to face a disciplinary panel with appropriate sanctions meted out to them, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

However, the Umar Danbatta-led management of the NCC, which in 2020 won the Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecards (ECIS) award of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has refused to discipline the indicted officials as recommended by the committee, nor call for their prosecution.

When contacted, the agency did not deny the allegations against its officials but said “it is an administrative matter that has been handled.”

Our reporter’s findings, however, revealed that the amount fraudulently claimed by these officials is being deducted in instalments from their emoluments.

Despite this, many workers at the agency, who are privy to the development, are wondering why the management of NCC has continued to shield the accused officials from prosecution.

Some of the workers, who spoke to our reporter on the condition that their names are not disclosed for fear of victimisation, said the leadership of the commission has, by its conduct, “made the agency undeserving of the award it received and celebrated just last November.”

They also alleged that the agency’s pledge to promote the culture of accountability during the launch of the ICPC anti-corruption unit at NCC headquarters was a mere “window dressing.”

NCC’s executive vice-chairman, Mr Danbatta, at the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in December, pledged to “continually maintain high ethical standards in all its regulatory activities consistent with the federal government’s efforts to entrench the culture of accountability and transparency in the ministries, departments and agencies.”

How it all began

In 2019, about 70 NCC officials noticed irregular deductions from their allowances over a period of time.

According to reliable sources, some eventually noticed cumulative deductions that ranged between N500,000 to N3 million depending on their levels and grades.

The development led to complaints by the workers who were told by the management that they flouted the agency’s cost-cutting measure that was put in place to minimise the cost of governance.

“We were accused of travelling beyond three times in a month as recommended by the cost-cutting circular. But our trips were approved by the same management and we reported when we returned,” an angry junior official told our reporter.

NCC Board sets up committee

The board of the NCC, which was then led by a former senator, Olabiyi Durojaye, set up an investigative committee to probe the matter but the coronavirus pandemic lockdown slowed down the committee.

Also, the abrupt removal of Mr Durojaye from office was also said to have affected the task of the committee.

But Mr Durojaye’s successor, Adeolu Akande, a professor of political science, could not ignore the cries of the workers, who had insisted that they did not flout any rule.

The new board, therefore, in 2020, set up another five-member investigative committee chaired by Mr Abowei. Other members of the committee included Ubale Maska, an engineer; Adeleke Adewolu, a lawyer; Salmon AbdulAzeez, an engineer, and the Commission’s secretary, Felix Adeoye. Mr Adeoye served as the committee’s secretary.

The committee commenced its probe in May 2020 and submitted its report to the board on June 24, 2020.

According to insiders, out of about 70 officials whose names appeared on the list, only the duo of Messrs Gontor and Eretan were indicted by the investigative committee.

However, almost one year after the report was submitted to the NCC board, and the board’s directive to the management to ensure the prosecution of the two indicted officials, the management is not known to have taken any action.

Another official of the commission, who also does not want to be named, told our reporter that; “All the other workers were refunded by the management but N54 million and N68 million respectively are being deducted from the pay of Gontor and Eretan.

“Though a disciplinary committee was initially set up by the board which was chaired by Mr Adewolu Adeleke, the committee insisted that the management needed to have queried the officials before facing the disciplinary committee. And since then, the management which is led by the executive vice-chairman, Prof Dambatta, has kept mute.”

EFCC’s aborted probe

PREMIUM TIMES is aware that between January and February 2020, both Messrs Guntor and Eretan frequented the Kaduna zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition by a yet-to-be-identified group.

But the new leadership of the EFCC in the zone has said it could not trace the details of the matter.

Speaking with our reporter in February, the new head of the zone, Sanusi Abdullahi, said he was only transferred to the zone in July 2020, and that he could not trace the files of the matter.”

“But we are still investigating and I can assure you that we will do our best to know what is amiss,” Mr Abdullahi said.

Group sues NCC, EFCC

A non-governmental organisation – Lygel Youths and Leadership Initiatives (LYLI), has filed an ex-parte motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja, against both the NCC and the EFCC.

The case with suit number, FHC/ABJ/CS/395/2021/ is seeking an order for leave of the court to apply for an order of mandamus “directing and or compelling the first defendant/respondent to reopen the investigation albeit discontinued or conducting a fresh investigation concerning the allegation of fraud against the former head of the second defendant’s department of audit and its incumbent head of the finance department.”

While the EFCC is the first defendant in the case, the NCC is the second defendant.

The group’s action according to its director of legal and compliance unit, Lekan Oladapo, is a reaction to the NCC refusal to accede to its request on the details of the corruption allegations against its staffers.

Mr Oladapo told our reporter on the phone that his organisation had in December 2020, written the executive vice-chairman of the NCC, accusing the management of condoning corruption.

The letter, a copy of which this newspaper obtained, is titled; “Condonation of Corrupt Practices and Obtaining Public Funds Under False Pretences: Our complaints”

“…it has come to our attention that there are serious cases of festering corruption being allowed to go unpunished in your organisation which was discovered sometime on or about June-July this year and the step being taken by the management of your organisation has been far from satisfactory,” the letter reads in part.

It, therefore, requested the report of the investigative committee and urged the NCC management to prosecute the indicted officials without delay.

In its response to the group’s enquiry, which was dated January 8, 2021, and signed by the director of legal and regulatory services, Josephine Amuwa, the NCC said the detail requested by the group was too broad.

The agency, therefore, demanded the specifics of the cases and pledged to respond appropriately.

On January 22, another letter was addressed to the agency by the NGO stating the specifics of the cases and demanded the report of the investigative committee and the resolutions of the board of the organisations on the matter as reportedly taken on June 24, 2020.

“It is our further request that the Commission should furnish us with official steps taken towards enforcing the reports with the related documents. Furthermore, your office is urged to enforce the relevant disciplinary actions to the affected staff and facilitate the speedy criminal investigation and prosecution as required by laws,” the letter reads in part.

In its second response to the group’s follow-up enquiry, the NCC noted that it could not honour the requests of the group.

Ms Amuwa said, “The Commission has reviewed the contents of your letter and notes that you have maintained that the information you seek is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and therefore cannot provide the information you required under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.”

NCC, accused officials evade questions

PREMIUM TIMES on several occasions reached out to Messrs Gontor and Eretan on the matter but they refused to respond to our reporter’s enquiries.

Calls and text messages sent to the duo were not responded to. Our reporter also sent them WhatsApp messages and even after reading the messages, they failed to respond.

This newspaper on Sunday also reached out to the spokesperson of the agency, Ikechukwu Adinde, on why the NCC has for months failed to act on the matter and he responded by saying the matter is “purely administrative”.

Hours after speaking with our reporter, he called back to say he would provide a substantive response to his inquiry. He is yet to do so as of Monday morning.

A right activist, Olowolafe Dunsi, said the actions of the agency show that “they did not deserve the transparency award given to them last year by ICPC. The officials indicted for fraud should be adequately dealt with.”

Nigeria have confirmed their place at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, even before the kick off of their game against Benin Republic in Porto Novo.

This follows a goalless draw between Lesotho and Sierra Leone in the early kick-off in Group L.

The result means Lesotho can no longer qualify for next year’s tournament in Cameroon.

It also means Sierra Leone cannot match the Super Eagles’ current tally of eight points.

The Leone Stars now have four points after four matches, while their hosts have three, with one round of fixtures left.

Gernot Rohr’s men take on the Squirrels by 5pm West African Time.

The three-time African champions are now fighting to finish top of the group.

The Squirrels � of #Benin vibing to Kabiyesi o... ahead of their #AFCON2021Q against the Super Eagles of #Nigeria tomorrow.

� @SatAllagbe


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X3NGbwtj8E

Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric, says if bandits are not assured of their safety and rehabilitation, they will not let go of their arms.

Gumi made the comment on Wednesday during a virtual event hosted by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

The meeting was organised to discuss Nigeria’s security challenges.

The cleric said he sees no reason why the government should not dialogue with the bandits who are willing to negotiate.

Gumi said: “Nobody can justify criminality, what we are saying is what we saw in the forest is an ethnic war going on between people in the forest and the neighboring villages and hamlets. When the herder felt he has grievances and nobody was listening to him, he took on weapons.

“So when we went there and they saw a listening ear, they were ready to negotiate, tell us their grievances, and ready to incorporate into the society. So in such a case, I see no reason why we should not have a dialogue with them.

Gumi said if they are not shown that they’ll be safe when reintegrated into society, they will not give up their arms.

The cleric also reiterated that they should be given amnesty in the same vein as the Niger Delta militants.

He said: “Looking at their educational status, they don’t have any official or unofficial education. How can a nation which is serious about security leave a chunk of its society so uneducated, leave it to arms and drugs? I don’t think that society is serious. How can we disperse them, rehabilitate them because they are holding arms to protect themselves.

“If you don’t show them they’re safe in the larger society, there’s no way they can leave their weapon. And that’s why we asked for amnesty for them just like we had in the Niger Delta.

“I’m not justifying their kidnapping, what they do is crime. But their kidnapping is to get more money to buy more weapons so that they can protect themselves.”

I have received many phone calls, read lots of DMs’, text messages and emails from many concerned folks these past months. 98% of them inquiring, “ChaCha, are you okay? ChaCha, I hope you’re fine now?”....
•
Beloved, like the butterfly I have been metamorphosing. Healing my mind before my body can make it out here. Join me thank my “Chi” who has gloriously renewed my spirit and restored my body. I have seen the light; every darkness in my path have disappeared. I am happy to be back. I am Okay. I am doing so Great.
Mentally, Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually �
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Thank you for loving ChaCha Eke Faani ❤️

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has discovered 528 illegal occupants of an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, officials of the state government have said.

The Governor paid a midnight visit to the camp on Tuesday, where he carried out a headcount.

The camp holds IDPs from Bama, Konduga and Damboa LGAs of Borno.

TheCable gathered that Zulum sealed the entrance immediately after his arrival and presided over the counting of the IDPs.

The count revealed that out of the 1316 households in the records of humanitarian officials, 528 were found to be fake.

Only 788 households were discovered to hold real IDPs.

The governor said the headcount is an attempt to curb the practice of residents benefitting from resources meant for IDPs.

Borno state officials who participated in the headcount said Zulum is not against vulnerable citizens getting support, but that he is against “fraudulent people” ripping off IDPs.

TheCable had reported how Zulum uncovered 650 fake IDPs at Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Legal Studies camp, also, in Maiduguri.

An Abuja Magistrate, Ibrahim Mohammed has ordered policemen at the court to arrest and handcuff a lawyer, Eburu Ekwe Barth, for challenging him on the summary of the case before the court.

The Magistrate of Court 2, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja thereafter sentenced Ekwe to two months in prison for contempt in the face of the court.

The lawyer was thereafter handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.

A lawyer present during the dramatic court proceeding told BarristerNG that the lawyer’s crime was that he interjected when the magistrate was delivering a ruling on an application by the the opposing lawyer.

The lawyer’s ground of interjection was that the magistrate was ascribing what he never said to him in his ruling. The lawyer further queried whether there was a conspiracy between the magistrate and the plaintiff’s lawyer.

His interjection angered the magistrate and he immediately ordered his arrest and sentenced him for contempt.

Pleas for mercy made by many lawyers present during the proceedings were ignored by the judge.

The lawyer was taken to Suleja Correctional Centre.

Please Make sure this lifestyle audit law is Practiced on all serving and retired Government officials first! Is Nigeria not tired of Suffocating her citizens?

Nigerians are not interested in the President receiving political wanderers in the Villa.They are more interested in their well-being, especially security.They want to see a president who's proactive in handling affairs of the country,rather than receiving recycled politicians.

Most importantly, Nigerians are not interested in how many politicians that decamp to APC, which is already a dead party.
The President should rather make himself available to Nigerians who can help solve our unending financial and security challenges amongst others.

Above all, I wish the President knows how disappointed Nigerians are about him and his failed promises.