The Ghana Immigration Service has directed its personnel to put in place strict measures that would prevent fleeing inmates from entering the country.

Terrorists had attacked the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre on Tuesday, July 5, and freed 879 inmates including those linked with terrorism. 443 had so far been recaptured.

…corpse recovered

[quote]The remains of 28-year-old man Sodiq Aremu who jumped into Eleguchi beach, in the Lekki area of Lagos have been recovered and evacuated into the morgue.

Sodiq Aremu, a native of the Ona Ora area Oyo was last seen alive on Thursday 7th July when he suddenly dropped his bag and jumped into the beach.

It was learned that all efforts to trace and rescued him proved abortive.

However, on Saturday 9th July at about 1:30 pm the victim’s corpse was found floating on the surface of the ocean.

Sequel to the report, police detectives visited the scene of the. Incident and took photographs of the scene.

Confirming the incident, Spokesperson Lagos State Police Command SP Benjamin Hundeyin said the corpse of the man who jumped into the beach was seen on 9th July at about 1:30 pm floating. His corpse has been recovered and evacuated into the morgue. The investigation is ongoing.”

Former minister of transportation and leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, in the last one week, has lost some of his strong supporters.

Latest among his loyalists to quit was his former commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari.

Others, who announced resignation in letters to their respective wards chairmen were Dawari George, Marvin Yobana (former Africa’s representative at the World Youth Assembly), Nkemka Amadi and Robinson Elechi.

However, all of them have remained silent on the next decision of a political party to join and thanked the APC for giving them opportunities to serve at different capacities.

Semenitari, former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in her resignation letter wrote: “I write to resign my membership of APC with effect from today.

“I appreciate the friendship, camaraderie and opportunities that this platform has provided me to serve my state, region and country even as I wish the party well.”

Similarly, George, who was a strong ally of the former minister and a former commissioner for Youths under Amaechi’s administration, lauded the party for the support he got to serve it.

He was also the former chairman of the reconciliation committee of the party in Rivers State.

He, however, did not state the reason for his decision. The letter was addressed to the chairman of APC ward one in the state’s Asari Tori Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, Yobana, in his resignation letter, cited certain actions of the party which conflicted with his personal interest and political ideology as reasons for quitting the party.

These APC chieftains and Amaechi’s allies’ exit came after his recent return from Abuja, where he took second position at the party’s recent presidential primary.

Seven more kidnapped passengers of the March 28 train attack in Kaduna state have been released by the terrorists who attacked the train.

The victims were released by their abductors on Saturday after spending over 100 days in captivity.

The security agencies are yet to confirm the development, but a member of the negotiating team and media consultant to Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Tukur Mamu, told Channels Television that the kidnapped victims were released based on dialogue and negotiation with the terrorists.

But he did not say if any ransom was paid or not before the terrorists released the victims.

Among the freed passengers according to Mamu, include the son of the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, Sadiq Abdullahi, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu and Alhassan Sule. Others are Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman and the only foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr. Muhammad Abuzar Afzal.

Mamu disclosed that the seven released hostages have been handed over to the military and that they were in their way to Kaduna.

Mamu, while reiterating the power of mediation in addressing the security challenges bedeviling the country, claimed that he singlehandedly facilitated and initiated the release of the seven kidnapped victims with support from Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

“That is why I keep emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of this innocent victims in one day,” he said.

“This is just one individual that sacrifice his life and even integrity. There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria. When you sincerely engage them this guys even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening. I have sufficient evidence to probe that they due listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted to the release of this 7 victims”.

While he thanks the General Officer Commanding the one Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army for the support during the negotiation and the subsequent release of the hostages, Mamu however lamented that despite the poor medical condition of many of the released hostages, there was unnecessary security checks which wasted “their time in a military unit at the outskirts of Kaduna.

“The location they (abductors) gave is remote, sensitive and risky. There was a military checkpoint before penetrating the forest. My team was stopped by the soldiers but when they told the military our mission they contacted the GOC and he immediately gave approval for them to proceed. And after the victims were successfully evacuated, travelling through over 40 kilometers in the forest, they were given a military escort back to Kaduna at the checkpoint”.

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has unveiled his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the founder of Baze University, Abuja, was announced the LP vice-presidential candidate in Abuja on Friday.

The 46-year-old was a former lawmaker who represented Kaduna North Senatorial district.

Baba-Ahmed’s announcement was coming barely 24 hours after the Director-General, Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, announced his withdrawal as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.

Funke Akindele, Nollywood actress popularly known as ‘Jenifa’, has been chosen as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos.

She emerged the Deputy Governorship candidate, beating five other nominees for the position.

Governorship Candidate in the state, Dr Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran popularly known as Jandor, and the leadership of the party in the state, confirmed the development.

It was gathered that the running mate would be unveiled at a soon to be held event.

Daily Trust had exclusively reported how five names were shortlisted for the position.

They included Ms Akindele; former governorship aspirant, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; former Senatorial candidate for Lagos East, Yeye Shobajo, another governorship aspirant, David Kolawole Vaughan known as DAKOVA and Engr. Teslim Balogun.

A picture of Jandor and Akindele had since gone viral suggesting the Nollywood actress has been chosen as the candidate.

But there was serious resistance from some stakeholders of the party which led to the delay in finalising the selection of the running mate.

Daily Trust however learnt that the candidate was able to convince the party’s stakeholders, citing the popularity of Jenifa among the youth population and the fact that she hailed from Lagos East Senatorial District, precisely Ikorodu.

A source close to the governorship candidate confirmed the selection of Akindele but added, “it has not been announced officially.”

‼️Sad news from @NGSuper_Falcons camp: Top striker @AsisatOshoala is out of the ongoing #WAFCON2022. She sustained a Grade 2 Medial Collateral Ligament strain in the game against South Africa. She is due back in Spain on Thursday. Get well quick Asisat!

Delta State Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, debunked reports that he had no West Africa School Certificate (WASC) certificate, saying he made the second best result in his set in the country in 1976.

He said that the issue around the certificate was deliberate wrong perception and unnecessary politics, and explained that virtually all universities in the country offered him admission based on his outstanding performance in WASC and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.

Okowa made this known while speaking to journalists after inspecting ongoing projects at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area.

He said: “On the issue of my certificate, I think it is a misconception. People try to play politics with everything.

“Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have distinction in all subjects.

“The Higher School Certificate was attached and it has been acknowledged by Edo College and the school put it out there that I made an ‘A’ B’ B’.

“I do not pride myself but it was very difficult to make such grade in higher school at that time.

“My high school result was the second best nationally in 1976, when I finished. So, many universities admitted me through Telegram as at that time, and I had to start making choices of which to accept.

“Of course, it’s very clear that I finished medical school at the University of Ibadan. I was 21years and some months; I was less than 22 years of age.’’

On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the governor called on the Federal Government to expedite action in resolving the issues, adding that every government should be sincere enough to keep to promises and agreements at all times.

“We continue to sympathise with our students who have been at home for several months now rather than being in school.

“I use this opportunity to call on the Federal government to do something urgently to end the strike.

“It’s not a good thing for the children, parents and even education in general. It is unfortunate that the Federal government has not been able to attend to issues, as requested by ASUU.

“For every government, if promises are made, we must ensure that we keep to our promises and if there are things that cannot be done, you let people know,’’ he said.

Okowa remarked that lecturers were not on strike in the four universities owned by the state, “for us in Delta State, we are fulfilling all the requirements and that’s why you can see that this university and our three other universities are all active and in session because we do not have any issues with our lecturers.

“All our four universities are in session because we pay special attention to education in Delta State, and our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has also assured that education occupies a prime position in our `Rescue Nigeria’ mission.’’

He expressed satisfaction with the Management of the university in Ozoro for successfully admitting 1,850 students in the first year, disclosing that no fewer than 3,000 applicants chose the university as first choice in the new session, starting in October.

“That over 3,000 applicants have chosen the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, as first choice is very heart-warming and it goes to show that our decision to upgrade the Polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology is a very good decision.’’

He also lauded the university for using the engineering students to execute some projects in the school.

“We walked through some concrete paved roads executed by the university with engineering students and it is very encouraging that they are putting their students to practice and their lecturers also have the opportunity to practicalise what they teach.

“You will recall in the same manner when the school was a polytechnic that they used their students and their engineering staff to build the stadium in the campus.

“This is very encouraging because it is important that we actually ensure that our students are not only groomed up in theory but also put to practice what they learn and that’s exactly what we look forward to,” the governor said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a 27 year-old suspect and indigene of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nwamannah Chuks Ifeanyi, for alleged ATM card fraud.

He was picked up on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at the Fruits Market, Wuse Zone II, Abuja, following an intelligence report.

At the point of arrest, 41 ATM cards of different banks, bearing various names, were found in his possession.

Other items recovered from him are a Toyota Venza car with Registration Number KUJ 300 MK, one PoS Machine, two Apple Laptop computers, six iPhones, one Nokia torchlight, one Apple wrist watch and one Driver’s license.

The Benue State University graduate of Political Science and agent to a soccer betting company, claims he uses the ATM cards for Chargeback.

Chargeback is the fraudulent act of using an ATM card to withdraw money and afterwards call the bank to dispute the transaction and ask for a reversal.

He will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

APC Leader in Ibadan Zone, Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade, led thousands of APC members to join the People’s Democratic Party on Monday.

The event, which took place at IMG school, Eleta, signalled the defection of prominent stakeholders like Alhaji Abass Najeemdeen Gbayawu, Alh Bolaji Akinyemi Kosigiri, Engr Kayode Arowolo (Former APC Chairman, IBSELG), Barrister Rotimi Okeowo, former Aspirant APC; Prince Olumuyiwa Akingbade Akinbiyi, Alhaji Bidemi Kareem, Alhaji Saheed Adanla, Princess Ramat Adeyemi, Hon. Tunde Akintola and other leaders who joined the PDP.

The decampees were received on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde by Chief Bayo Lawal, the Director-General for Seyi Makinde Gubernatorial campaign, and the Executive Chairman of Ibadan South East LG, Hon Emmanuel Alawode, and Hon Kazeem Adeniyi Bibire, SA to the Governor on LG and Chieftaincy matters.

In his remarks, Prince Olumuyiwa Akinbiyi, who was elected chairman of the party at the last congress, noted that they were dissatisfied with the manipulations of Congress and the primary election result by a cabal that hijacked the party in the state. He affirmed that they were leaving APC with the majority of its members in the local government to support the Senatorial ambition of Mogaji Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe and the re-election bid of Governor Seyi Makinde

Former Chairman of Ibadan South East LGA, Alh Najeem Gbayawu, noted that many of them had never thought of leaving the APC but had to do so in honour of Mogaji Tegbe who had being their pillar of support in their former party.

After that requested a motion for members of the Achievers group to join PDP, and the motion was duly moved and unanimously supported by members.

In his response, Mogaji Tegbe thanked the leaders for the huge step which they have taken in the best interest of the Local Government and the state. He assured the leaders and teeming members that their welfare would remain paramount to him.

The new members were welcomed into the PDP by the state PRO of the party, Engr Akeem Ọlatunji, and the party Chairman in Ibadan South East, Hon Sulaiman Adesina, as well as the Senatorial Women Leader and Senatorial Youth Leader for Oyo South Senatorial District.

Other dignitaries who accompanied Mógaji Tegbe to the event include Hon Bolanle Agbaje, former member OYHA; Hon Jide Adewale, former Commissioner for Environment Hon Akeem Ojuoti, member SUBEB; Barr Fatai Akinsanmi, former LG Chairman; Erelu Lateefat Jayeoba, Hon Hafeez Oladejo, and Hon Tope Yussuf, former Council Secretary.

The Federal Government has announced plans to absorb Nigerians schooling in war-torn Ukraine into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

PHOTO STORY: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo drives a commercial tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, to pick intra-city passengers in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Saturday.

Obasanjo said that his action was informed by the desire to show the teeming youths that there were many opportunities to legitimately make a living in the country.

The former president added that his action was to further stress what he said earlier that with 'Keke NAPEP' business, which his government launched in November 2002, Nigerian youths could still be self-reliant.

Three Abuja-based lawyers on Wednesday in Abuja dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a Federal High Court seeking an order against the electoral body not to accept the nomination of Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, as presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections.

The grouse of the lawyers amongst others is that Tinubu, Atiku and Obi were unlawfully nominated by their respective political parties.

Plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1004/2022 are Ataguba Aboje, Oghenovo Otemu and Ahmed Yusuf.

Apart from INEC other defendants in the suit instituted on June 29 are; the Attorney General of the Federation ( AGF), All Progressives Congress ( APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) as 1st to 5th respectively.

There would have been no controversy on the certificates of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had a functional server.

This is the position of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

The APC Presidential Candidate had left out details of his primary and secondary schools in the CF 01 INEC form he filled for the 2023 elections.

This had sparked a huge controversy, with Nigerians, especially on social media, casting doubts on Tinubu’s integrity.

But speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Tuesday, Uzodimma expressed optimism that the issues around Tinubu’s certificate would be resolved.

“All the things so mentioned are entire party challenges that will be resolved. But for my presidential candidate, the issue of certificate shouldn’t even arise. In 1999, he contested elections and became the governor of Lagos. In 2003, he contested election second term and became governor of Lagos.

“He ran and won as a senator in the country. Were record keeping efficient, and INEC server functional, he (Tinubu) wouldn’t need to do fresh submission (of documents). However, if whatever he is supposed to submit is not handy, it is not late yet. I’m sure before the time he will submit whatever is required of him.”

Asked if he was still convinced that the APC remained the party to beat in Nigeria despite the difficulty to find running mate, he said: “What do you mean by difficulty? Who told you? The deadline is not yet here until the period of submission is over and we are not able to put a running mate, that is the only way you can ask this kind of question.

“However, I know because of the strength of character in our party, being the ruling party and how important the party to us including you here, I appreciate your concern but be rest assured that we will fill a complete ticket for the presidential contest.”

On the concern over some senators at National Assembly leaving the ruling party, he said: “Did some leave the party? or are leaving the party? Until they leave… but for those few who left, of course, there are some others who left other parties and joined the APC. So one cancels the other.”

In light of several controversies trailing the supposed loss of Bola Tinubu’s credentials, his dummy running mate, Kabir Ibrahim Masari, has informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) his school certificates were also missing.

A sworn affidavit for the loss of some original documents submitted to the electoral commission by Mr Masari and seen by Peoples Gazette, showed that the APC vice presidential candidate had misplaced vital documents including C of O of one plot KT 17522 in Katsina state, his Grade II certificate from Katsina Teachers College and his primary school certificate.

“That sometimes in January 2021, while on transit within Wuse Area, FCT-Abuja, I discovered that my original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Plot, No KT 17522, GRA Katsina, Katsina State; Certificate of Kaduna State Development Centre from 1994 – 1995; Grade II Certificate from Katsina Teachers’ College (KTC) from 1978 – 1983 and First Leaving School Certificate issued by Masari Primary, Katsina State, from 1972 – 1978, got lost,” partly stated the affidavit sworn by Mr Masari at the Supreme Court in July 2021 and submitted to INEC on June 17, 2022.

“That all efforts made to trace the documents proved abortive hence this affidavit,” the affidavit added.

The electoral law mandates candidates to submit their personal credentials that will be published for public scrutiny ahead of elections.

Meanwhile, Mr Tinubu had on Saturday insinuated Mr Masari was only a dummy running mate after he admitted that he was still searching for a suitable vice presidential candidate.

His statement lent credence to claims that the submission of Mr Masari’s name to the electoral office was only a stopgap to circumvent the INEC deadline for the 2023 elections.

Mr Tinubu and Mr Masari being Muslims may offset the religious balance and representation known with the nation’s highest office.

I have done my research on this matter.

As I said from the outset, I cannot and will not condemn my friend and brother Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his beautiful wife unless I see the evidence of their wrongdoing or they are convicted by a court of law.

I am now convinced that there is NO evidence and that they will NOT be convicted.

There is also a distinct possibility that the charges may eventually be dropped or thrown out by the court if the British really want to play it fairly.

I believe that the London Metropolitan Police have acted hastily and in error or that they are simply behaving in a typically racist manner all in an attempt to demonise and stigmatise a Nigerian public figure and Nigerians generally even though the evidence before them cannot possibly justify the charge or a conviction.

When I looked into the matter and considered all the facts, including the young man David Nwaminyi's own testimony which was published on his Facebook page a few hours ago, I asked myself the following questions.

How can this man be so wicked and cruel and how can he be so ready, willing and able repay good with evil?

The Ekweremadus needed help and instead of giving it to them as promised he sought to take advantage of them, milk them dry, endanger the life of their ailing daughter, send them to jail and utterly destroy them.

Was David not sent to the Ekweremadu family by Lucifer?

Is he not the biblical "son of perdition" who takes pleasure in the destruction and misery of others?

Is he not the quintessential sadist?

Is he not a beast in human flesh?

I know Senator Ekweremadu quite well. He is a deeply courageous man and his greatest concern and fear right now will not be for his own safety or future but rather for the welfare of his daughter and the travails of his dear wife.

That is the measure of man that he is: he always puts his family first.

And when I consider what this monster called David is doing to them I ask myself, what on earth have they done to deserve all this?

Consider the facts:

A couple have a sick child in a foreign hospital. They needed and asked for your help. You volunteered to donate one of your kidneys to their daughter so she could live.

You were well paid for this purpose. You were of age. You were not underage or a minor. You gave your consent.

Your visa was lawfully and legitimately processed and your purpose for going to the U.K. was disclosed in the visa application.

You were not smuggled across international boarders secretly or illegally, against your will or treated like a slave but rather you were flown on a plane and you entered the U.K. lawfully and willingly.

Nothing was hidden. Nothing was done in the darkness. There were no hidden, ignoble, macabre or sinister motives.

You were taken abroad for the sole purpose of donating one of your kidneys and you were given the best treatment by the Ekweremadu's (by your own admission) and at their hospital of choice.

Instead of doing the right and honorable thing and following through on your own part of the deal by helping the young lady or instead of simply saying that you have changed your mind and have elected not to donate your kidney any longer, satan entered your body, spirit and soul, you got other ideas, you sought to make more money and you started plotting and conceiving evil against those who were depending on you.

You resolved to attempt to send the Ekweremadus to jail for no just cause, far away from home and in a foreign land simply because they were desperate, they asked you for help, they trusted you and they paid you.

You have destroyed their reputation and you now want their daughter to die from stress and the inability to get someone else to donate a kidney to her.

You wish to destroy three lives and an entire family just so you can gain political asylum, stay in the U.K. and live off the state.

Apart from being motivated by your crass and primitive greed, it is possible that you are also being used by some unscrupulous elements and Senator Ekweremadu's political enemies but whichever it is, you alone will bear the consequences of your wicked and callous actions both in this life and in the next.

It can never be well with you. You will suffer the consequences of your wickedness and you will be exposed for what you are.

You are not 15 but 21. You consented to this course of action. You offered to help them but now you are hell- bent on destroying them.

I and millions of other Nigerians condemn and despise you.

As for the Ekweremadus they will come out of this better and stronger and rise even higher.

Their daughter will not die but live to the glory of God and both the Senator and his wife shall return to Nigeria in victory and in glory.

You on the other hand will fail in your evil quest, you will be eventually deported and you shall return in shame.

And when you do you will face the full wrath of the Nigerian people and legal system. It is only a question of time.

I assure you of this.

When one of our own is falsely accused in a foreign land we ought to rally around him or her. And Ekweremadu and his wife are our own.

We may not agree with them on everything but they are part and parcel of us as a people and we must not abandon or condemn them without good reason.

Permit me to end this contribution with a word for David the Wicked:

You have no idea how much damage you gave done to yourself, your country and your life with this evil course of action. Surely you shall reap what you have sown.

You are nothing but a wicked, evil and cruel little man.

The God of Heaven who sees and knows all shall judge you.

The Bola Tinubu Campaign Headquarters on Saturday said the recent certificate forgery charges against the former Lagos governor stemmed from a 1999 incident involving Lagos politician Tokunbo Afikuyomi.

The campaign said Mr Afikuyomi was the one who falsely told the electoral department INEC in 1999 that Mr Tinubu attended primary and secondary schools in Ibadan, a claim that has now resurfaced ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

The response came a day after Peoples Gazette reported that Mr Tinubu’s 2023 presidential nomination filings with INEC showed he did not obtain primary and secondary education, with his campaign admitting that Mr Tinubu did not disclose his early schools because the matter was controversial in the early 2000s.

The campaign, however, said the ruling APC candidate was exonerated of all charges after Mr Afikuyomi, a former senator, admitted that he mistakenly filled the governorship nomination forms for Mr Tinubu in 1999 and, therefore, responsible for the false claims before a Lagos parliamentary panel that probed the counterfeit academic records.

“Asiwaju was exonerated in the House of Assembly’s report because Senator Afikuyomi said he filled the form on his behalf then,” campaign spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday.

Mr Onanuga did not clarify whether or not Mr Tinubu could be held responsible under the law since he was the candidate whose signature appeared on the falsified document filed under oath.

Mr Onanuga said Mr Tinubu left out his primary and secondary education columns when he sought a second governorship term in Lagos in 2003.

Mr Onanuga said Nigerians should disregard perjury charges against Mr Tinubu because has not held any political office since he concluded his two terms in 2007, until earlier this month when he clinched the presidential nomination of the ruling party.

“The same certificate he gave to INEC this year, he used in 2003 and there was no issue then. Why are they raising issues now?” Mr Onanuga added to NAN. “This was what happened that time and if in 2022, he (Tinubu) now drew blank on that session, what offence has he committed?”

The campaign dismissed the controversy as fueled by opposition elements of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mr Tinubu had told INEC when he submitted his nomination forms on June 15 that he didn’t have primary and secondary school certificates, but he had two university degrees. However, the certificates from the tertiary institutions he attended had been stolen by state agents who breached his residence in Lagos during the brutal regime of Sani Abacha.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some names submitted by the All Progressives Progress (APC) as senatorial candidates are missing from the list published by the commission on Friday.

Festus Okoye, INEC spokesperson, spoke on the development in an interview with Channels Television.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Godswill Akpabio, former minister of Niger Delta affairs; and Dave Umahi, Ebonyi governor, had been listed by the APC as candidates for Yobe north, Akwa Ibom north-west, and Ebonyi south senatorial districts, respectively.

However, in the list published by the commission on Friday, Lawan, Umahi and Akpabio were said to have been excluded.

The development comes amid controversy over the APC Yobe north senatorial ticket, as well as issues over senatorial primaries featuring Akpabio and Umahi.

Although APC had fixed its senatorial primaries for May, Umahi, Lawan and Akpabio were said to have participated in primaries organised by the APC after the trio contested the APC presidential ticket and lost earlier in June.

Speaking on the development regarding the INEC list, Okoye said the party is not under obligation to publish the names of candidates submitted by political parties if there are questions over the validity of primaries featuring such candidates.

“If you look at section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, section 29 says ‘every political party shall not later than 180 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the commission in the prescribed forms, the list of the candidates it proposes to support at the election, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political parties’,” he said.

“The commission does not submit the list of candidates. It is the political parties themselves that has been given the locus to submit this particular list and in this case, there is no personal interference between the commission and the political parties.

“We open the portal — what we called ‘candidate nomination portal’ — and we give an access code to the national chairman of each of the political parties that conducted primaries with which they upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates.

“So, if a political party has uploaded the list and personal particulars of a candidate that did not emerge from valid party primary, INEC is not under a constitutional and legal obligation to publish the particulars of such a candidate.”

The INEC spokesperson added that a candidate who was validly nominated at a primary, but whose name was excluded by the party, can seek redress from a competent court.

He also said the list published on Friday is not the final document for the 2023 polls, adding that the final list will be published at a later date.

FC Bayern have signed Sadio Mané from Liverpool. The 30-year-old attacker has agreed a contract with the German record champions until 30 June 2025.

Herbert Hainer, FC Bayern president: "Sadio Mané is a global star, who underlines the appeal of FC Bayern and will increase the attractiveness of the Bundesliga as a whole. Fans come to the stadiums to see such unique players. It's great that our board led by Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić have managed to sign a player like Sadio Mané for FC Bayern."

Oliver Kahn, FC Bayern CEO: "We are delighted that we've been able to recruit Sadio Mané for FC Bayern. With his outstanding performances and his great successes at the highest international level over many years, there are very few players like him in the world. We're sure that Sadio Mané will delight our fans in the coming years with his spectacular style of play. He's ambitious and eager to win more titles. This is a very strong package. With players like him at FC Bayern, all the biggest goals are possible."

Hasan Salihamidžić, FC Bayern board member for sport: "In Sadio Mané a top international star is coming to FC Bayern, who has left his mark on world football. We're proud to have brought him to Munich. Sadio made it clear from the first minute in our talks that he now only wanted to play for FC Bayern. Everyone knows his outstanding technical qualities as well as his incredible mentality. He will contribute a lot and help to lead our team, which has a great structure. The fact that he's joining FC Bayern shows that our club and he have big aims. Sadio Mané fits perfectly with the football that FC Bayern play under Julian Nagelsmann."

Sadio Mané: "I'm really happy to finally be at FC Bayern in Munich. We spoke a lot and I felt big interest from this great club right from the beginning, so for me there were no doubts. It's the right time for this challenge. I want to achieve a lot with this club, in Europe too. During my time in Salzburg I watched a lot of Bayern games - I really like this club!"

Mané left Génération Foot in his homeland of Senegal at the age of 19 to join Metz in France. After spells at RB Salzburg, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga title, and Southampton, in 2016 he signed for Liverpool, with whom he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2019. He also played a leading role in the English giants' long-awaited Premier League title in 2020. Last season Mané collected the EFL Cup and FA Cup, as well as being a runner-up in the Champions League and Premier League. The forward made a total of 269 competitive appearances for the Reds, scoring 120 goals.

He has also scored 31 goals in 89 appearances for the Senagal national team, having made his debut at the age of 20. In the winter he won the Africa Cup of Nations together with Bayern's Bouna Sarr. Mané was named African Footballer of the Year in 2019.

The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the killing and beheading of a former state lawmaker, Hon. Nelson Emeka Achukwu, by unidentified gunmen.

This came after one month after Okechukwu Okoye, a serving lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency at the State Assembly was kidnapped and later found beheaded.

SaharaReporters had reported that Okoye was kidnapped along with his aide on May 15, 2022, and was later found dead with his head cut off and dropped at Nnobi area.

But confirming the recent incident to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the command's spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, said Achukwu's remains were found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor communities.

The PPRO said “the victim was abducted at about 10:15pm in his house on June 9, 2022 and efforts were being made to rescue him before this unfortunate development. His body was found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor.

“We are still not relenting on our investigation as we will ensure that the culprits will face the full wrath of the law."

The former lawmaker was reportedly kidnapped in his home in Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA, despite being physically challenged.
His decapitated body was later found at the bank of Ulasi River and was quickly buried by the family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 evening as the body was already decomposing.
A family source told SaharaReporters that they couldn’t believe he would be killed after they paid the N15million ransom requested by his abductors.

The victim, the owner of Nelly Oil & Gas filling station located along Onuselogu road, Utuh, had earlier been abducted and released a few months ago.

Later Achukwu was said to have told his family members that his captors had accused him of providing information to the military but got released when they found out the allegations were false.

As at the time of filing this report the reason for his second kidnap and murder is unknown.

United States-based social networking sites, Twitter and Instagram, have defied the order given by the Nigerian government to delete porn posts within 24 hours, SaharaReportors' findings revealed.

On Monday, June 13, the Nigerian Government issued a code of practice for all online platforms operating in Nigeria including social media interactive platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok.

Muhammadu Buhari’s government ordered them to remove, disable or block access to any non-consensual content, which parades partial or full nudity, sexual acts, deep fake or revenge porn within 24 hours of user’s posting.

The order was contained in the recently released Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (online platforms).
According to the document, these online platforms have to “act expeditiously to remove, disable, or block access to non-consensual content that exposes a person’s private areas, full or partial nudity, sexual act, or revenge porn, where such content is targeted to harass, disrepute, or intimidate an individual.

“A platform must acknowledge the receipt of the complaint and take down the content within 24 hours.”

The Code of Practice also instructs these platforms to take down any unlawful content upon receiving a notice from a user, or an authorised government agency.

However, SaharaReporters' investigations revealed that six days (144 hours) after this directive, porn content can still be accessed on both Twitter and Instagram by Nigerian users.
Many Twitter users in Nigeria still have posts that involve nudity.

Many of such posts were found to be subsisting despite the anti-porn post directive given by the Nigerian government.
Similarly, SaharaReporters' findings showed that Nigerian users can still access porn content on Instagram also but the newspaper chose not to post the links in order not to encourage pornography.

The 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll, has debunked a statement making the rounds endorsing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

The viral post had Sanusi blasting the All Progressives Congress presidential candidates (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, describing them as unfit to be Nigeria’s next president.

But, the Chief of Staff to the deposed Emir of Kano, Munir Sunusi Bayero, in a statement on Monday said Sanusi did not write the viral post.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to an article circulating the online media space analysing the motives of the three presidential candidates in the 2023 elections.

“We would like to emphatically state that this was not authored by His Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II as is being widely attributed.”

Bayero noted that the former CBN Governor does not bear Sanusi Lamido Sanusi anymore.

“Consequently, given the need to set the records straight, we hereby state for the benefit of those unaware that the Khalifa is not officially called Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, but as HH Muhammad Sanusi II.”

He admonished readers to scrutinise any information on social media to avoid false and misleading information.

“While we restate that we have no affiliation to the article itself in any way, we staunchly continue to place our faith and trust in Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) to continue guiding His Highness Sanusi as an elder statesman in his socio-economic Advocacy for all Nigerians, Africans and humanity in general,” the statement concluded.

Osun is not Ekiti as our people will lawfully resist all attempts to rob them as was done in 2018 … July 16 we shall rejoice ! See y’all soon but for now #Backtotour �

Meet Igbo-born Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Mohammed Chijioke Nwidor who throughout his lifetime tried to spread Qur'an, Hadith, and Fiqiute teachings across Igboland.
He died at the age of 77 years.